THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB  SERIES. 


THE 


SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


AMONG  THE  TRAPPERS. 


BY  HARRY  CASTLEMON, 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  GUNBOAT  SERIES,"  "GO  AHEAD  SERIES," 
ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  SERIES,"  ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

PORTER    &    CO  ATES, 

822    Chestnut    Street. 

CINCINNATI : 
R.  W.  CARROLL  &  CO. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874,  by 

11.  W.  CARROLL  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


MEAKS  &  DUSENBERY,  SHERMAN  &  Co., 

Stereotypers.  Printers. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Some  old  Friends          ........     Page  5 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Invitation    .......  20 

CHAPTER  III. 
Archie's  Strategy         .....  .38 

CHAPTER  IV. 
A  Surprise  .......  ,59 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  Bear-Hunt 


CHAPTER  VI. 
All  together          ••.....  95 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Uncle  Dick's  Secret     .......  ,  114 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Voyage  commenced      ••......  136 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Suspicious  Visitors        .  .....  150 


iy  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 
What  they  did Page  170 

CHAPTER  XI. 
"  Chinny  Billy" 19° 

CHAPTER  XII. 
The  Man  in  Irons 2U 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Frank  steals  a  Horse 238 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Dick  Lewis  springs  his  Trap 267 


THE 

SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

AMONG  THE  TRAPPERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SOME    OLD    FRIENDS. 

"I  T  is  the  night  of  the  15th  of  December  18 — ,  and 
'  once  more  we  find  all  the  members  of  the 
Sportsman's  Club  seated  around  a  blazing  fire,  in 
the  same  room  in  which  they  were  congregated  when 
we  first  made  their  acquaintance.  Just  two  weeks 
have  passed  since  we  introduced  them  to  our  readers, 
and  what  a  memorable  two  weeks  they  have  been, 
to  be  sure  !  What  surprising  adventures  have  been 
crowded  into  that  short  space  of  time  !  First,  there 
was  the  panther  hunt,  which  was  the  beginning  of 
all  their  troubles,  for  it  was  then  that  the  Club  in 
curred  the  lasting  enmity  of  Bayard  Bell  and  some 
of  his  crowd  of  fellows.  After  that  came  the  wild- 


6  THE    SPORTSMAN  S    CLUB 

hog  hunt,  during  which  Perk  and  Eugene  nearly  lost 
their  lives,  and  Featherweight  was  made  a  prisoner 
by  the  smugglers.  Then  followed  the  voyage  to 
Lost  Island,  the  capture  by  the  revenue  cutter,  the 
interview  with  the  smugglers,  during  which  the  Club 
were  completely  outwitted,  the  fight  with  the  de 
serters,  the  voyage  across  the  Gulf,  the  loss  and 
recovery  of  the  yacht,  the  narrow  escape  from  the 
Spanish  frigate,  the  fortnight's  excitements  winding 
up  at  last  by  the  rescue  of  Fred  Craven,  the  reunion 
of  the  Club  and  their  safe  voyage  homeward. 

The  boys  look  back  to  all  these  perils  and  exploits 
as  to  a  startling  dream  from  which  they  have  but 
just  awakened.  Everybody  calls  them  heroes,  but 
they  can  hardly  believe  that  they  deserve  the  honor. 
Walter  is  the  lion  of  the  Club,  and  his  friends  are 
all  willing  that  he  should  be  such,  for  it  was  he  who 
took  the  yacht  to  Cuba  and  brought  her  safely  back. 
The  gallant  little  vessel  holds  a  higher  place  than 
ever  in  the  estimation  of  her  young  commander ; 
the  members  of  the  Columbia  Yacht  Club  go  into 
ecstasies  over  her ;  and  every  one,  young  and  old, 
who  comes  to  the  mansion  to  call  upon  her  crew  and 
congratulate  them  on  their  safe  return,  makes  it  a 
point  to  visit  the  schooner.  She  now  lies  at  her  old 


AMONG-    THE   TRAPPERS.  7 

moorings  in  the  bayou,  effectually  protected  from 
the  fury  of  the  winter  storms  ;  and  if  you  could  see 
how  gracefully  she  rides  the  swells,  and  how  energeti 
cally  she  pulls  at  her  fastenings,  you  would  believe, 
with  the  Club,  that  she  knows  what  she  has  done 
and  is  proud  of  it. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  the  neighborhood 
when  it  became  known  that  Mr.  Bell  was  the  leader 
of  the  smugglers,  and  that  he  had  carried  Feather 
weight  to  Cuba  with  him  ;  but  that  has  all  died  away, 
and  now  the  questions  that  everybody  is  asking 
everybody  else  are  :  What  have  the  Spaniards  done 
with  the  crew  of  the  Stella  ?  What  has  become  of 
Mr.  Bell's  family?  and,  Where  in  the  world  is 
Chase  ?  Nobody  is  able  to  reply  to  a  single  one 
of  these  inquiries.  The  Sportsman's  Club  have  not 
heard  from  Mr.  Bell  since  they  left  Cuba,  and 
neither  have  they  the  slightest  idea  what  has  be 
come  of  Bayard  and  his  mother.  All  they  know  is 
that  the  house  they  once  lived  in  looks  more  like  a 
ruin  than  it  ever  did,  and  that  it  is  entirely  deserted. 
Even  the  negroes  who  tilled  the  plantation  have 
moved  away,  the  horses,  cows  and  mules  have  be 
come  scattered,  and  there  is  not  a  living  thing  to  be 
seen  on  the  premises,  with  the  exception  of  a  lonely 


8  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

dog,  which  has  been  observed  occasionally  standing 
on  the  porch  howling  lustily,  as  if  he  were  greatly 
depressed  by  the  desolate  appearance  of  things.  In 
regard  to  Chase  they  are  quite  as  much  in  the  dark. 
He  has  not  yet  appeared,  and  neither  has  he  been 
heard  from ;  and  the  people  in  the  neighborhood 
have  finally  settled  down  in  the  belief  that,  in  his 
eagerness  to  escape  from  Cuba,  he  shipped  on  the 
first  vessel  he  could  find,  which,  instead  of  bringing 
him  to  the  States,  carried  him  off  in  another  direc 
tion,  and  that  he  will  some  day  turn  up  all  right. 
Wilson  is  very  anxious  about  him.  He  has  not  the 
slightest  suspicion  that  Chase  deliberately,  and  in 
the  most  cowardly  manner,  deserted  him  when  he 
was  in  trouble.  If  he  knew  this  he  might  not  be 
quite  so  solicitous  concerning  his  welfare. 

On  this  particular  evening,  the  Club  are  passing 
the  time  in  much  the  same  manner  as  when  we  first 
met  them.  Walter  and  Featherweight  are  busy 
with  their  books,  Perk  and  Bab  are  deeply  interested 
in  a  hotly-contested  game  of  backgammon,  while 
Eugene  is  seated  at  a  desk  upon  which  is  a  pile  of 
letters — the  correspondence  that  has  accumulated 
during  the  Club's  absence.  They  have  just  reached 
home  after  a  day's  exciting  sport  at  fox-hunting; 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  9 

and  having  removed  all  the  powder-stains  and 
splashes  of  mud  from  their  hands  and  faces,  and  ex 
changed  their  heavy  top-boots  for  slippers,  are  wait 
ing  with  as  much  patience  as  hungry  boys  can  for 
tho  ringing  of  the  supper-bell.  Before  they  heard 
't  the  door  opened,  admitting  Uncle  Dick,  who  car 
ried  a  bundle  of  letters  in  his  hand. 

"I  can't  stop  now,  said  the  old  sailor,  declining 
the  easy  chair  which  Walter  drew  in  front  of  the 
fire,  and  placing  the  letters  on  the  desk  before  his 
nephew.  "  Sam  has  just  returned  from  the  post- 
office,  and  I  came  up  to  bring  your  mail.  As  most 
of  the  letters  are  addressed  to  you,  Eugene,  I  sup 
pose  they  are  the  answers  to  the  invitations  you 
have  sent  out.  By  the  way,  I  hope  you  did  not 
neglect  to  tell  all  your  friends  that  something  a 
little  out  of  the  usual  line  is  coming  off  during  the 
holidays,  or  very  soon  afterward?" 

"No,  indeed,  I  did  not  neglect  it,"  replied  Eugene, 
earnestly,  while  all  the  Club  became  interested  at 
once.  "  But  don't  keep  us  in  suspense  any  longer, 
Mncle.  Please  tell  us  what  it  is  ?" 

The  old  sailor,  with  a  very  mysterious  expression 
on  his  face,  bent  his  head  close  to  his  nephew's,  and 
opened  his  lips  as  if  about  to  speak.  The  other 


10  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

boys  observing  these  movements,  hastily  arose  from 
their  chairs,  and  gathering  about  him,  held  their 
breaths  to  listen ;  for  this  "  something  a  little  out 
of  the  usual  line,"  that  was  to  come  off  during  the 
holidays,  had  been  kept  constantly  before  their 
minds  for  a  long  time  past,  and  now  they  thought 
they  were  going  to  hear  what  it  was.  Uncle  Dick 
cleared  his  throat,  and  while  the  Club,  with  their 
curiosity  and  impatience  worked  up  to  the  highest 
pitch,  were  listening  intently,  he  suddenly  straight 
ened  up,  and  frowning  fiercely  upon  Eugene,  poked 
him  in  the  ribs  with  his  finger,  winked  knowingly 
at  the  rest  of  the  boys,  and  left  the  room  without 
saying  a  word.  The  amazed  arid  disappointed 
youngsters  stood  silent  and  motionless  for  a  few 
seconds,  staring  blankly  at  one  another,  and  then 
slowly  returned  to  their  seats  by  the  fire,  while 
Eugene  began  to  sort  out  the  mail. 

"Now,  if  anybody  but  Uncle  Dick  had  played 
that  trick  on  us,  I  should  say  it  was  downright  pro 
voking,"  said  the  latter,  who  was  the  first  to  find 
his  tongue.  u  What  in  the  world  does  he  mean  by 
it?" 

"There's  something  going  on,"  said  Feather 
weight,  shaking  his  head  and  looking  very  wise. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  11 

"  You  know  that  when  the  Academy  was  burned, 
and  we  were  wishing  that  it  would  be  immediately 
rebuilt  so  that  we  could  go  back,  Uncle  Dick  said 
it  would  be  a  long  time  before  any  of  us  would  see 
the  inside  of  it  as  scholars !" 

"Yes,  I  remember,"  said  Walter,  picking  up  his 
book. 

"  And  I  remember  another  thing  he  once  told 
me,"  remarked  Eugene;  "and  that  is,  that  he  is 
one  of  the  best  hands  in  the  world  to  keep  a  secret ; 
so  we  may  as  well  'possess  our  souls  in  patience', 
and  await  developments.  He'll  not  tell  us  until  he 
gets  ready." 

Eugene  having  by  this  time  looked  over  the  mail, 
now  handed  each  of  his  companions  the  correspon 
dence  and  papers  addressed  to  him,  and  for  the  next 
ten  minutes  the  silence  was  unbroken,  save  by  the 
rustling  of  the  letters  as  the  readers  turned  the  sheets. 
At  the  end  of  that  time,  an  exclamation  from 
Eugene  drew  the  attention  of  all.  "  Here's  a  dis 
appointment,  fellows  !"  he  exclaimed.  "  George 
says  he  can't  come." 

"Now,  that's  too  bad!"  cried  all  the  boys,  in  a 
breath. 

"A  better  fellow  than   George  never  existed," 


12  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

continued  Featherweight.  "  I  wish  he  lived  about 
here,  so  that  he  could  be  one  of  us." 

"  He  must  have  some  good  reasons  for  declining," 
observed  Walter,  in  a  disappointed  tone.  "  What 
does  he  say  ?" 

Eugene  turned  to  his  desk  and  began  to  overhaul 
the  letters  upon  it.  While  he  is  thus  engaged  we 
will  seize  the  opportunity  to  put  in  just  a  word  of 
explanation. 

Mr.  Gaylord,  and  his  brother,  Uncle  Dick,  like 
many  other  wealthy  men  all  over  the  world,  and 
particularly  in  the  South,  keep  open  house  the  year 
round;  and  especially  do  they  make  it  a  point  to 
have  the  old  mansion,  during  the  holidays,  filled  to 
its  utmost  capacity  with  their  friends  and  relatives. 
As  early  as  the  first  of  December  invitations  are 
sent  in  all  directions,  a  goodly  number  of  them 
being  written  by  Walter  and  Eugene,  who  have  the 
privilege  of  inviting  as  many  of  their  young  ac- 
quaintanances  as  they  please,  to  assist  in  carrying 
out  the  plans  that  have  been  formed  for  their  amuse 
ment.  And  their  visitors  never  find  the  time  hang 
heavily  on  their  hands,  for  each  day  has  something 
exciting  or  interesting  set  apart  for  it.  For  ex 
ample,  there  is  a  game-dinner  to  be  furnished  for 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  18 

the  guests  and  all  the  servants,  and  every  one  who 
can  ride  a  horse  or  handle  a  rifle  or  shot-gun,  is 
expected  to  take  part ;  the  men  finding  the  deer 
and  bear  meat,  and  the  boys  confining  themselves 
to  turkeys,  ducks,  geese  and  other  small  game. 
Enough  hunts  on  a  smaller  scale,  shooting-matches, 
rides  and  masquerades  are  planned  to  fill  up  the 
rest  of  the  time.  Mr.  Gaylord  had  made  extensive 
preparations  for  this  particular  Christmas,  for  he 
intended  that  it  should  be  one  long  to  be  remem 
bered  by  the  younger  portion  of  his  family,  at  least, 
and  so  did  Uncle  Dick,  who  said,  with  a  very  know 
ing  air,  that  there  was  no  telling  where  they  would 
all  be  when  another  Christmas  came  around,  and 
kept  constantly  hinting  at  that  mysterious  "  some 
thing"  that  was  certainly  coming  off — a  subject,  by 
the  way,  which  he  seemed  to  find  unbounded  satis 
faction  in  talking  about. 

Eugene  continued  for  some  moments  to  pull  over 
the  numerous  letters  on  his  desk.  The  most  of 
them  were  answers  to  the  invitations  he  and  Walter 
had  sent  out — some  gladly  accepting  and  telling  the 
Club  when  they  might  expect  the  writers  at  the 
mansion,  others  regretting  that  different  arrange 
ments  had  already  been  made.  At  last  Eugene 
found  the  letter  he  wanted  and  read  as  follows : — 


]4  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

u  You  will  believe  me,  I  know,  when  I  say  that  I 
am  very  sorry  indeed  that  I  cannot  accept  your 
kind  invitation.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  I 
should  think  twice  before  declining,  for  I  have  not 
forgotten  the  fine  rides  and  hunts  I  had  with  you 
and  the  Club  last  year  ;  but  these  are  not  ordinary 
circumstances.  I  am  expecting  a  couple  of  friends 
from  the  North  to  spend  the  holidays  at  our  house : 
so  you  see  I  must  stay  at  home." 

"  That  is  all  he  says  about  that,"  continued 
Eugene.  "  The  rest  of  the  letter  is  taken  up  with 
the  description  of  a  grand  deer-hunt  in  which  he 
engaged  a  few  days  ago." 

"Well,"  said  'Walter,  "that's  no  excuse,  and  we 
can't  accept  it  as  one.  He  needn't  stay  at  home 
because  he  is  going  to  have  company.  They  must 
be  the  right  sort,  or  George  would  not  class  them 
among  his  friends.  Tell  him  that  our  party  will 
not  be  complete  without  him,  and  ask  him  to  come 
by  all  means  and  bring  his  guests  with  him.  We 
shall  be  glad  to  see  them,  and  the  old  house  is  plenty 
large  enough  to  hold  them." 

"And  make  the  invitation  as  cordial  as  you  know 
how,"  suggested  Featherweight. 

Eugene  picked  up  his  pen,  and  the  others  once 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  15 

more  turned  to  their  correspondence.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  long-expected  summons  to  supper  camei 
Eugene's  letter  was  finished  by  that  time,  and  he 
took  it  down  stairs  and  dropped  it  into  the  mail  box 
in  the  hall.  "  To  whom  are  you  writing?"  asked 
Uncle  Dick,  who  happened  to  pass  by  just  then. 

"  To  George,"  was  the  reply.     "  He  says  he  can't 
come." 

"  He  shall  come  !"  exclaimed  the  old  sailor. 

"  He  is  expecting  some  friends  from  the  North." 

"  No  matter  if  he  expects  an  elephant  from  the 
North.     Tell  him  to  come  and  bring  it  along." 

"  That's  just  what  I  did  tell  him ;  or,  rather,  I 
told  him  to  bring  his  friends." 

"  You  didn't  forget  to  say  that  something  a  little 
out  of  the  usual  line  is  coming  off,  did  you  ?" 

"No  sir,  I  did  not." 

Eugene  went  into  the  supper  room  and  Uncle 
Dick  turned  into  the  library.  When  the  latter 
came  out  a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterward,  he  carried 
in  his  hand  a  letter  bearing  the  same  address  as  the 
one  his  nephew  had  just  put  into  the  box.  It  was 
plain  that  the  absent  George  was  popular  with  the 
Gaylord  family,  and  that  they  were  determined  that 
he  should  make  one  of  their  party  of  guests,  if 
writing  could  accomplish  their  object. 


•^Q  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

The  next  morning  these  two  letters  were  taken 
out  of  the  box  by  old  Sam,  the  negro,  and  sent  off 
by  the  mail-coach.     They  took  their  way  first  to 
New  Orleans,  thence  by  boat  up  Red  River  as  far 
as  the  Washita,  and  finally  stopped  for  a  few  hours 
in  the  post-office  at  a  place  we  will  call  Gibb's  Land 
ing,  from  which  they  found  their  way  into  the  hands 
of  the  person  to  whom  they  were  addressed— a  tall, 
pale,  studious-looking  youth,  who,  after  placing  them 
carefully  away  in  one  pocket,  drew  from  another  a 
well-filled  envelope  which  he  dropped  into  the  box. 
We  are  interested  in  this  last-mentioned  letter,  for 
it  has  considerable  to  do  with  our  story ;  or,  rather 
those  for  whom  it  was  destined  have ;  so  we  will  see 
where  it  went  and  what  sort  of  a  reception  it  met. 

It  had  a  long  journey  to  make— fifteen  hundred 
miles,  at  least,  if  it  could  have  travelled  in  a  straight 
line.  It  went  by  boat  to  Memphis,  thence  by  rail 
through  New  York,  Boston  arid  Portland,  and  at 
last  brought  up  in  Augusta,  the  capital  of  Maine. 
There  it  was  transferred  to  a  stage  coach,  and  in  a  few 
hours  more  reached  its  journey's  end,  being  depos- 
ited,  in  company  with  several  others,  in  a  box  in  the 
Lawrence  post-office,  waiting  to  be  taken  out  bj 
somebody.  Nor  was  it  destined  to  wait  long 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  17 

Shortly  after  the  mail  was  opened  a  dashing  young 
fellow,  in  heavy  overcoat,  arctic  shoes,  and  beaver 
muffler  and  gloves,  hurried  into  the  office,  took  out 
the  letters,  and  after  glancing  at  the  address  of  each, 
put  them  all  into  his  pocket  and  hurried  out  again. 
He  sprang  into  a  light  Portland  cutter,  to  which 
was  attached  a  large,  stylish  iron-gray  horse,  and 
after  tucking  the  wolf  robes  carefully  about  him, 
picked  up  the  reins  and  was  off  like  the  wind.  He 
went  through  the  village  at  a  reckless  pace,  bowing 
right  and  left  to  those  he  met,  and  passing  all  the 
cutters  on  the  road  as  easily  and  quickly  as  if  they 
had  been  standing  still — on  past  the  Academy,  and 
along  the  bank  of  the  creek,  where  crowds  of  sturdy 
boys  and  rosy- cheeked  girls  were  disporting  them 
selves  on  the  ice,  and  was  finally  whirled  through  an 
open  gate,  and  up  to  the  back  verandah  of  a  neat 
little  cottage,  where  an  honest  looking  Irishman,  who 
had  heard  the  jingling  of  the  bells,  was  waiting  to 
receive  him. 

"Roderick  is  lively  to-day,  intirely,"  said  the 
man,  catching  the  ribbons  as  the  driver  threw  them 
out,  and  glancing  at  the  impatient  steed,  which 
pranced  about  and  pawed  the  snow  as  if  unable  to 
stand  still  even  for  an  instant. 
2 


18  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  Lively !  That's  no  name  for  it,  Uncle  Mike. 
Look  there,"  said  the  new-comer,  pulling  off  his  glove 
and  showing  his  hand,  which  bore  the  marks  of  the 
rein  that  had  been  wrapped  around  it,  "  He's  al 
together  two  much  for  me.  I  haven't  got  muscle 
enough  to  hold  him.  His  mouth  is  like  iron." 

The  speaker  went  into  the  house  and  made  his 
way  along  the  hall  into  the  sitting  room,  the  occu 
pants  of  which  were  an  elderly  lady,  and  a  hand, 
some  young  girl.     The  former  he  addressed  as  Auir 
Mary,  and  the  other  he  called  Cousin  Julia.     Aftei 
giving  them  the  letters  and  papers   that  were  ad 
dressed  to  them,  he  went  out  again,  crossed  the  hall 
and  entered  a  room  which  seemed  to  have  been  fit 
ted  up  as  a— well,  it  is  hard  to  tell  whether  it  wa 
intended  for  a  bed-room,  library  or  curiosity-shop 
for  it  looked  like  all  three.     Its  only  occupant  wa 
a  tall,  broad-shouldered  young  fellow,  in  dressing 
gown  and  slippers,  who  was  seated  at  a  table  covere 
with  books  and  papers.     He  was  gazing  thoughl 
fully  out  at  the  window,  one  hand  holding  a  per 
arid  the  other  being  employed  in  stroking  somethin 
on  his  upper  lip,  which  promised,  with  a  few  year: 
care    and  cultivation,  to  develope   into    a  thrivin 
moustache. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  19 

The  new-comer,  without  saying  a  word,  kicked  off 
his  arctic  shoes,  and  divested  himself  of  his  over 
coat  and  muffler,  revealing,  when  all  these  opera 
tions  were  completed,  a  slender  little  figure,  and  a 
jolly,  good-natured  face,  which,  if  once  seen,  could 
never  be  forgotten.  Indeed,  we  venture  the  asser 
tion  that  those  of  our  readers  who  have  met  this 
young  gentleman  before,  know  by  this  time  who 
he  is.  He  seated  himself  in  an  easy  chair,  thrust 
his  feet  out  toward  the  glowing  bed  of  coals  in  the 
grate,  and  drawing  a  letter  from  his  pocket  slowly 
read  aloud  the  superscription  : 

"  Captain  Frank  Nelson, 
Lawrence, 

Somerset  Co.,  Me. 

"  Your  old  navy  title  clings  to  you  yet,  doesn't  it  ? 
I  wonder  that  rny  correspondents  don't  pay  me  the 
same  respect.  They  ought  to  address  me  as  Pay 
master  Winters.  I  consider  myself  slighted.  It  is 
from  George  Le  Dell,"  he  added,  tossing  the  letter 
to  his  companion. 


20  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    INVITATION. 

AFTER  a  long  separation  we  once  more  find  our 
selves  in  the  presence  of  these  two  old  and 
valued  friends,  Frank  Nelson  and  his  cousin,  Archie 
Winters.*  Those  who  have  met  them  before  will 
not  need  an  introduction,  for  Frank  and  Archie 
never  forget  the  friends  they  have  once  taken  by 
the  hand ;  and  to  those  who  have  not,  we  are  cer 
tain  that  all  we  need  to  say  is  that  they  are  excel 
lent  fellows  ;  and  we  believe  that  by  the  time  our 
story  is  ended,  they  will  be  willing  to  endorse  our 
recommendation. 

The  last  time  we  saw  Frank  and  Archie  was  in 
this  very  room.  They  had  then  just  received  their 
leaves  of  absence  from  the  navy,  in  which  they  had 
served  with  honor  for  nearly  four  years,  and  bad 
come  home  to  enjoy  themselves.  That  wras  three 
years  ago ;  so  Frank  is  nearly  twenty-three  years 

*The  heroes  of  the  "Gunboat"  and  "Rocky  Mountain" 
Series. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  21 

of  age,  and  Archie  a  few  months  younger.  These 
three  years  have  been  spent  by  our  old  friends  in 
good  hard  study  and  work.  Archie  is  fitting  him 
self  for  a  civil  engineer  (he  has  already  spent  some 
months  in  assisting  to  lay  out  a  railroad,  and  the 
letter  of  recommendation  given  him  by  his  chief 
declares  that  as  a  leveller  he  has  few  superiors), 
while  Frank  is — well,  he  has  not  yet  given  his  oc 
cupation  any  name  ;  he  intends  to  wait  until  he  has 
made  a  reputation.  But  he  has  written  some  very 
readable  stories,  on  subjects  that  are  always  in 
teresting  to  the  "Boy  Public,"  and  perhaps  some 
of  you  have  seen  them.  He  has  changed,  of  course, 
in  some  respects.  He  has  grown  stronger  and  taller 
— Archie  can  easily  stand  erect  under  his  out 
stretched  arm — talks  in  a  deep  bass  voice,  and 
spends  more  time  in  his  study  with  his  books  and 
papers,  than  he  does  in  sailing  the  Speedwell  or 
whipping  the  trout  streams.  But  when  the  time  for 
recreation  comes  he  is  as  much  of  a  boy  as  ever. 
Archie  is  the  same  young  fellow  we  met  five  years 
ago — he  doesn't  look  or  act  any  differently.  He 
never  will  change.  He  will  always  be  "  spindle- 
shanked,"  rattle-brained  Archie  Winters. 

Frank's  room,  or  the   study,  as  it  is  generally 


22  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

called,  looks  just  as  it  did  the  last  time  we  saw  it. 
The  bed  occupies  its  old  corner;  at  its  foot  is  the 
"sporting  cabinet,"  which,  however,  looks  more  like 
an  armory,  for,  in  addition  to  the  boys'  double  bar 
rels,  fishing-rods  and  baskets,  it  contains  the  revolvers 
and  swords  they  wore  during  the  war,  the  rifles  they 
carried  in  the  Far  West,  as  well  as  the  bowie-knives, 
spears,  bows  and  arrows,  lassoes  and  fire-arms  of 
every  description  which  came  into  their  possession 
while  they  were  on  the  prairie  and  in  the  service. 
The  two  relics  of  revolutionary  times  are  still  to  be 
seen  over  the  book-case ;  the  model  of  the  fore-and- 
aft  schooner  and  the  box  enclosing  the  "  scene  at 
sea,"  occupy  their  old  positions  on  the  bureau;  and 
the  same  pictures  adorn  the  walls.  Among  them 
is  the  one  that  formerly  occupied  a  prominent  place 
in  their  room  in  Uncle  James's  rancho — the  same 
that  Pierre  Costello  took  down  from  its  nail  in  order 
that  he  might  hang  Frank  with  his  lasso.  The  boys 
will  never  part  with  any  of  these  relics.  There  are 
too  many  interesting  and  exciting  associations  con 
nected  with  them. 

The  museum,  which  you  know  is  located  in  that 
long,  low  building  at  the  rear  of  the  cottage,  has 
lost  none  of  its  attractions.  There  is  the  wild-cat. 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  23 

looking  just  as  he  did  on  the  morning  when  our 
Young  Naturalists  first  saw  him  in  the  woods ;  the 
buck  that  capsized  the  skiff,  and  turned  him  and 
Archie  into  the  lake ;  the  white  deer  they  rescued 
from  the  wolves  only  to  have  him  killed  by  a  panther ; 
the  moose  whose  sharp  hoofs  and  antlers  so  nearly 
made  an  end  of  Frank  ;  the  grizzly  bears  (among 
them  the  famous  "  Old  Davy"),  elk  and  prong-horns 
they  brought  with  them  from  the  Rocky  Mountains — 
they  are  ail  there,  in  good  condition,  and  looking 
as  life-like  as  possible.  The  pets,  however,  of  which 
Frank  once  thought  so  much — the  squirrels,  otter, 
raccoons  and  king-birds,  have  disappeared.  A  few 
of  them  died,  and  the  rest  strayed  off  into  the  woods 
and  became  wild.  "  Daw,"  the  crow,  is  the  only  one 
left.  He  is  as  familiar  and  full  of  fight  as  ever. 
Now  that  his  old  enemies,  the  king-birds,  are  not 
there  to  interfere  with  his  arrangements,  he  has 
things  all  his  own  way  about  the  orchard.  Brave 
is  left,  and  so  are  Marrnion,  Roderick  and  King 
James.  The  two  dogs  are  still  fast  friends,  and  as 
faithful  to  their  master  as  of  old.  Brave,  when  not 
off  in  company  with  Frank,  is  always  to  be  found 
in  his  kennel  at  the  back  porch,  while  Marmion 
looks  out  for  matters  about  the  barn.  Roderick, 


24  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  gray  king  of  the  drove,  has  lost  none  of  his 
lightness  of  foot,  and  although  he  is  still  able  to 
beat  King  James,  the  gallant  little  black  never  falls 
behind  without  giving  him  a  long  race.  Both  horses 
have  been  broken  to  harness,  and  there  is  not  a 
handsomer  or  more  stylish  team  about  the  village. 
Uncle  Mike,  the  same  whom  we  once  saw  assisting 
Frank  to  remove  his  scow  from  the  creek  to  his 
shop,  has  been  employed  to  take  care  of  them,  and 
the  spirited  animals  give  the  jolly  old  Irishman  as 
much  trouble  as  ever  the  young  bears  did,  that  were 
once  confined  in  his  smoke-house. 

.There  have  been  some  changes  made  about  the 
place  during  the  last  three  years.  An  elegant 
gothic  cottage  now  stands  in  the  upper  corner  of  the 
orchard,  and  in  it  Archie's  father  and  mother  reside. 
Archie,  about  once  a  week,  looks  in  upon  them  for 
half  an  hour,  and  that  is  all  they  see  of  him  unless 
they  go  over  to  Mrs.  Nelson's.  The  cousins  are 
very  much  attached  to  each  other,  and  Archie  thinks 
so  much  more  of  Frank's  study  than  he  does  of  his 
room  at  home,  that  he  has  taken  up  his  permanent 
abode  there. 

One  word  with  regard  to  the  writer  of  the  letter 
which  Archie  has  just  handed  to  Frank.     It  is  from 


-AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  25 

George  Le  Dell,  another  old  acquaintance  of  ours. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  George's  parents,  who 
live  in  the  South,  were  rebels,  and  that  when  the 
war  broke  out,  George,  being  a  thorough  Unionist, 
was  driven  from  his  home  ;  that  he  enlisted  in  the 
gunboat  service,  was  captured  and  taken  to  Tyler, 
Texas;  that  he  effected  his  escape,  and  while  on 
his  way  to  the  Mississippi,  he  met  Frank,  also  an 
escaped  prisoner,  who,  in  company  with  Major 
Williams  and  Captain  Schmidt,  two  Federal  army 
officers,  was  making  the  best  of  his  way  toward  the 
nearest  Union  post ;  that  George  joined  their  party ; 
that  they,  at  his  urgent  request,  very  imprudently 
consented  to  accompany  him  to  his  old  home  on  the 
banks  of  the  Washita,  which  was  but  a  few  miles 
distant ;  and  that  while  they  were  in  the  house, 
General  Le  Dell  and  .his  rebel  sons  came  in.  It 
will  be  recollected,  too,  that  their  entrance  was  the 
signal  for  a  scene  the  like  of  which  Frank  had  never 
witnessed.  George  and  Frank  afterward  became 
messmates  and  bosom  friends ;  and  when  the  war 
was  over,  and  they  parted,  one  to  return  to  his  quiet, 
happy  little  home  at  the  North,  the  other  to  wander 
he  knew  not  whither,  since  no  roof  was  waiting  to 
welcome  him,  and  no  mother  and  sister  were  im- 


26  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

patiently  counting  the  hours  that  must  elapse  before 
his  arrival,  George  had  said,  with  tears  in  his  eyes : 

"Write  to  me  often,  old  fellow,  for  I  have  no 
friend  but  you  now.  But  better  times  are  in  store 
for  me,  I  know.  Mark  my  prediction  :  this  thing 
will  be  settled  one  of  these  days,  and  when  it  is, 
I  will  write  to  you,  and  I  want  you  and  your  cousin 
to  pay  me  a  visit  at  my  old  home.  Promise  me 
faithfully  that  you  will." 

Frank  and  Archie  readily  gave  the  required 
promise,  and  hoped  from  the  bottom  of  their  hearts 
that  affairs  would  turn  out  as  their  friend  wished ; 
but  when  he  was  out  of  hearing  they  told  one  an 
other  that  their  prediction  was  that  George  would 
be  an  outcast  as  long  as  he  lived.  The  letter  which 
now  demands  our  attention  will  show  who  was  right. 

For  a  few  minutes  after  his  cousin  handed  him 
the  letter  Frank  sat  in  his  chair,  gazing  fixedly  at 
the  superscription,  his  thoughts  wandering  away 
down  to  the  sunny  clime  from  which  the  missive  had 
just  arrived.  Captain  Nelson  !  He  had  been  so 
addressed  but  once  since  he  left  the  navy,  and  that 
was  more  than  a  year  ago,  when  George  wrote  to 
him  from  Memphis,  telling  him  that  he  was  employed 
as  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  a  cotton  factor  there, 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  27 

and  that  he  bad  never  heard  from  home  except 
through  one  or  two  persons  he  had  chanced  to  meet 
on  the  street,  and  whom  he  had  known  in  better 
lays.  What  a  multitude  of  recollections,  what 
hrilling  scenes  and  hair-breadth  escapes  did  the  title 
onjure  up !  The  struggle  between  the  lines,  the 
imely  rescue  from  the  guerrillas,  his  capture  and 
aptivity  among  the  rebels,  the  fight  with  the  bat- 
ery  in  Red  River,  the  destruction  of  the  first  boat 
ic  commanded,  his  long  swim  from  the  burning 
rreck,  the  glow  of  pride  he  felt  when  the  admiral 
irst  placed  his  commission  in  his  hands — he  lived 
hem  all  over  again  in  a  minute's  time.  And  what 
.  host  of  memories  came  thronging  back  upon  him  at 
he  sight  of  the  familiar  writing  on  the  envelope  ! 
le  went  back  in  imagination  to  the  night  on  which 
e  had  first  met  George ;  when  the  latter,  in  obedi 
ence  to  the  major's  command :  "  Whoever  you  are 
tehind  that  fence,  whether  a  friend  or  an  enemy  to 
he  Union,  come  out  immediately  or  you  are  a  dead 
nan,"  arose  from  his  place  of  concealment  and 
lame  toward  them.  Once  more  he  listened  to  the 
orrowful  story  as  George  told  it  to  himself  and 
Companions  on  the  morning  they  camped  in  the  for- 
?st,  to  wait  until  it  should  grow  dark,  so  that  they 


28  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

might  continue  their  journey.     Again  he  crossed  the 
wide  field  that  lay  between  the  woods  and  the  plan 
tation  house,  and  stood  upon  the  porch  and  listened, 
while  the  major  told  the  servant  who  answered  his 
knock  at  the  door,  that  he  and  his  companions  were 
Confederate  soldiers,  out  on  a  scout,  and  in  need  of 
provisions.      He    saw    everything    in     General    Le 
Dell's  parlor  as  plainly  as  he  did  on  the   night  he 
was  there,  and  remarked  the  calm,  indifferent  manner 
in  which  George,  whose  heart  he  knew  was  almost 
bursting,    returned  the   curious   glances    which   his 
mother  and  sisters  directed  toward  him.      Then  the 
clatter  of  horses'  hoofs  fell  upon  his  startled  ear,  he 
heard  the  heavy  footsteps  in  the  hall,  saw  three  rebel 
soldiers,  George's    father    and    brothers,  enter   the 
room,  and  listened  like  one  in  a  dream  to  the  stern 
words  :   "  You  here,  you  young  traitor  ?     I  thought 
you  were  safe  in  the  prison  at  Tyler  again  by  this 
time."     In  short,  so   vividly  was  every  little  inci 
dent  connected  with  that  memorable  night  recalled 
to  his  mind,  that  Frank  really  thought  he  was  living 
it  over  again  ;  and  he  looked,  felt  and  acted  exactly 
as  he  had  done  on  that  occasion. 

«  Well — I  say !    None  of  that,  please.   I  assure  you 
that  I  have  no  hostile  intentions — none  whatever." 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  29 

These  words  recalled  Frank  to  his  senses.  He 
was  not  in  General  Le  Dell's  parlor,  after  all,  but 
in  his  own  quiet  little  study,  standing  erect  in  front 
of  his  chair,  with  his  hand  on  his  side,  where  he  had 
worn  his  revolver  when  circumstances  made  it  ne 
cessary  that  he  should  carry  one,  and  his  cousin 
was  gazing  up  at  him  with  a  face  full  of  wonder. 

"  I  don't  want  to  fight,"  continued  Archie,  who 
knew  that  Frank  had  been  wandering  among  mem 
ories  of  the  past.  "  The  war  is  over,  and  I  have 
given  up  the  trade.  It  is  so  trying  to  one's  consti 
tution." 

"Poor  George!"  said  Frank,  who  could  not  yet 
confine  his  thoughts  and  attention  to  things  about 
him.  "  I  shall  never  forget  how  he  looked  on 
the  night  he  went  into  that  house  with  us.  He  was 
dying  for  a  kind  word,  but  there  was  no  one  to 
speak  it." 

"  Where  is  he  now  ?"  inquired  Archie  ;  "  still  in 
Memphis?" 

"Let  me  see,"  replied  his  cousin,  closely  exam 
ining  the  envelope.  "  It  is  post-marked — Gibb's 
Landing,"  he  added,  in  an  astonished  tone;  "and 
that  is  only  four  miles  from  George's  old  home." 

"  I  declare  !"  exclaimed  Archie,  excitedly.     "  His 


30  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

prediction  has  been  verified;  I  know  it  has,  and  I 
am  glad  of  it.  Wouldn't  it  be  a  good  plan  to  read 
the  letter  and  fiu'd  out  ?" 

Frank  thought  it  would.  He  tore  open  the  en 
velope  and  took  out  three  short  letters.  The  first 
was  from  George,  and  ran  as  follows  : 

CATAIIOOLA  PARISH, 

Dec.  10th  18—. 

MY  DEAR  FRANK  : 

It  is  a  lono-  time  since  I  have  heard  from  you, 

O 

and  longer  since  I  have  written — more  than  a  year  ; 
but  it  does  not  seem  so  long,  for  I  have  passed 
through  it  like  one  in  a  dream.  Wish  me  joy,  old 
fellow — I  know  you  do;  things  have  turned  out 
just  as  I  told  you  they  would.  I  am  at  home  again, 
and  am  beginning  to  feel  that  I  belong  here.  Indeed 
it  could  not  be  otherwise,  for  all  old  differences  are 
forgotten,  and  my  father  and  mother,  and  all  my 
brothers  and  sisters,  treat  me  with  as  much  kind 
ness  and  consideration  as  though  nothing  had  ever 
come  between  us.  We  are  all  here,  a  united,  happy 
family  ;  how  happy  you  will  never  know  until  you 
have  seen  us.  Come  down  here,  and  I  will  tell  you 
just  how  it  was  brought  about.  You  must  come,, 
for  you  know  that  the  last  time  I  saw  you  and  your 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  31 

Cousin  Archie,  you  both  promised  that  if  my  father 
ever  relented  and  received  me  as  his  son  again,  and 
I  informed  you  of  the  fact,  you  would  pay  me  a 
visit.  I  shall  expect  you  both  to  spend  the  holidays 
at  our  house.  Don't  disappoint  me,  for  I  have  set 
my  heart  upon  having  you  here,  and  have  already 
declined  two  invitations  to  visit  my  friends.  Tell 
me  when  you  will  leave  home,  so  that  I  can  be  on 
the  lookout,  Take  a  Washita  river  boat  from  Mem 
phis  and  it  will  land  you  within  a  stone's  throw  of 
our  door. 

In  order  that  you  may  know  that  I  am  not  the 
only  one  who  wants  you,  I  enclose  invitations  from 
two  gentlemen  you  met  in  this  section  during  the 
war. 

You  read  the  papers,  I  suppose,  and  have  per 
haps  got  an  idea  from  them  that  Union  men  are 
still  detested  at  the  South.  Don't  let  that  trouble 
you,  for  I  assure  you  that  the  fact  that  you  are 
Northern  men,  will  not  once  be  brought  to  your 
recollection  by  anything  an  ex-rebel  may  say  to  you. 
The  better  class  of  Southerners — and  you  will  have 
to  do  with  no  others — have  accepted  the  issues  of 
the  conflict,  and,  instead  of  striving  to  keep  up  old 
feurls  and  .differences,  are  minding  their  own  bus;- 


82 


THE    SPORTSMAN  S    CLUB 


ness — working  hard  to  repair  the  damage  they  and 
their  property  received  during  the  war.  Do  promise 
me  that. you  will  be  on  hand  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment,  or  else  tell  me  that  you  want  nothing 
further  to  do  with 

Your  old  friend  and  messmate, 

GEORGE  LE  DELL. 

"Hurrah  for  George!"  exclaimed  Archie,  who 
had  listened  eagerly  to  every  word. 

"  That's  the  best  news  I  have  heard  in  a  long 
time,"  said  Frank,  really  delighted. 

"  You  will  accept,  of  course  ?" 

u  That  depends,"  replied  Frank,  picking  up  the 
second  letter  which  ran  thus : 

MY  YOUNG  FRIEND  : 

I  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  making  your 
acquaintance  in  the  regular  way,  but  you  will  per 
haps  remember  that  I  met  you,  on  one  occasion, 
under  very  peculiar  circumstances.  The  interview 
was  rather  hurried,  and  I  am  not  certain  that  I 
should  be  able  to  recognise  you  again,  were  it  not 
for  the  fact  that  I  have  heard  George  speak  so  often 
of  you,  that  I  have  at  last  come  to  believe  that  I 
have  always  known  you.  I  should  be  delighted  to 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  33 

have  you  visit  us,  that  I  may  thank  you  personally 
for  your  kindness  to  George,  and  see  if  the  real 
Captain  Nelson  equals  my  ideal.  I  add  my  own 
and  Mrs.  Le  Dell's  earnest  invitation  to  my  son's, 
and  sincerely  hope  you  and  your  cousin  may  find  it 
convenient  to  accept  it.  I  assure  you  that  we  shall 
do  all  in  our  power  to  make  your  stay  among  us 
agreeable. 

Your  obd't  serv't, 

EDWARD  LE  DELL. 

"Why,  that's  from  the  General,"  said  Frank, 
greatly  surprised. 

"  He  is  cordial  enough,  certainly,"  said  Archie, 
who  had  already  made  up  his  mind  that  the  invita 
tions  should  be  accepted ;  "  and  I  know  he  is  a  jolly 
old  gentleman,  if  he  was  a  rebel.  Are  you  going  ?" 

"  I  will  talk  to  you  about  that  in  a  minute. 
Here's  another  letter." 

It  ran  as  follows  : 

i 

DEAR  CAPTAIN  : 

George  wants  me  to  add  just  a  word,  hoping 
that  if  you  are  not  already  satisfied  that  we  really 
want  you  here  during   the  holidays,  you   and   that 
3 


34  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

cousin  of  yours,  I  may  say  something  that  will  con 
vince  you  of  the  fact.  I  have  never  seen  Mr. 
Winters,  but  I  have  met  you,  and  you  have  in  your 
possession  a  suit  of  clothes  you  borrowed  of  me  one 
night — borrowed  it  too  at  the  muzzle  of  my  own 
revolver,  if  you  remember.  But  perhaps  the  cir 
cumstance  is  so  trifling  that  it  has  escaped  your 
memory.  Come  down,  and  we  will  talk  over  those 
old  times.  We  can  afford  to  laugh  at  them  now.  I 
have  a  plantation  about  a  mile  from  the  General's, 
and  when  you  are  tired  of  visiting  with  George,  you 
can  ride  over  and  see  me.  You  know  you  once  told 
me  that  you  liked  hunting  better  than  anything  else 
in  the  world.  I  will  furnish  you  with  a  good 
horse  and  gun  at  any  time,  and  agree  to  show  you  a 
bear  in  less  than  half  an  hour  after  we  leave  the 
house.  Isn't  that  an  inducement?  I  know  it  is, 
so  pack  your  knapsacks  and  come  on.  We  shall 
be  glad  to  see  you. 

Your  friend,  and  once  your  captive, 

RICHARD  HENRY  SOMERS. 

"Lieutenant  Somers  !"  exclaimed  Frank,  more 
surprised  than  ever.  "  I  don't  think  I  have  forgotten 
the  trifling  circumstance  to  which  he  alludes,  nor 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  35 

shall  I  ever  forget  how  quickly  he  came  out  of  his 
rebel  uniform  when  he  saw  his  own  revolver  levelled 
at  his  head.  But  he  is  a  splendid  fellow.  He  and  I 
whiled  away  many  a  pleasant,  hour  while  he  was  our 
prisoner — " 

a  Well  !"  interrupted  Archie,  as  his  cousin  folded 
up  the  three  letters  and  replaced  them  in  the  envel 
ope,  "speak  out." 

Frank  stroked  his  moustache  meditatively,  and 
looked  at  the  pile  of  manuscript  on  the  (able  at  his 
side. 

u  0,  now  I  know  what  you  are  thinking  about," 
cried  Archie,  "  but  that  need  not  stand  in  your  way. 
Your  literary  engagements  are  not  so  very  numerous 
or  pressing  that  you  must  forego  a  pleasant  visit  for 
the  sake  of  them.  Leave  off  boring  the  public  for 
a  while,  and  give  it  a  rest.  If  any  of  your  numerous 
admirers  want  to  know  what  has  become  of  you,  no 
doubt  the  Lawrence  Patriot  will  inform  them.  I 
expect  that  when  the  editor  sees  us  going  away  he 
will  rush  into  his  office  and  dash  oif  something  like 
the  following  : 

"  '  Our  young  fellow  townsman  Frank  Nelson,  the 
popular  juvenile  author,  accompanied  by  his  cousin, 
Archibald  Winters,  late  Paymaster  in  the  United 


36  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

States  navy,  has  this  day  taken  leave  of  his  friends, 
preparatory  to  a  journey  to  Louisiana.  Mr.  Nelson 
goes  in  search  of  items ;  and  we  can  assure  his  le 
gions  of  readers  that  what  he  sees  and  hears  will  be 
served  up  for  their  entertainment,  in  his  most  ac 
ceptable  style,  in  the  new  series  of  books  upon  which 
he  is  at  present  engaged.'  ' 

Frank  laughed  heartily,  and  Archie  pulled  on 
his  overshoes,  threw  his  coat  over  his  shoulder  and 
bolted  out  of  the  room.  When  he  returned  two 
hours  afterwards,  Frank  had  had  a  long  conversation 
with  his  mother,  and  was  engaged  in  packing  his 
books  and  papers  away  in  his  desk. 

"  Aha  !"  exclaimed  Archie. 

"Well?"  replied  his  cousin. 

"  I  knew  you  were  going." 

"Are  you?" 

"  Of  course.  Mother  thought  at  first  that  she 
would  rather  have  us  at  home  during  the  holidays, 
but  as  we  have  already  had  one  grand  family  reunion 
since  the  war,  and  father  readily  gave  his  consent, 
she  did  not  raise  any  serious  objections.  When 
shall  we  start?" 

"  Let  me  see ;  this  is  Wednesday.     Suppose  we 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  37 

write  to  George  to-night,  and  tell  him  that  we  will 
start  on  Monday." 

Archie  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  the  day 
Frank  named  was  set  for  their  departure.  We  need 
not  dwell  upon  the  arrangements  they  made  for  the 
journey.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  say  that,  remem 
bering  the  bears  of  which  one  of  their  correspondents 
had  spoken,  each  packed  away  in  his  trunk  a  hunt 
ing-knife,  a  Smith  &  Wesson  revolver  and  a  Maynard 
rifle.  When  Monday  arrived  Uncle  Mike  hitched 
Roderick  and  King  James  to  the  bob-sleigh,  and 
took  them  and  their  luggage  to  Lawrence. 


38  THE    SPORTSMAN'S    CLUB 


CHAPTER  III. 

ARCHIE'S  STRATEGY. 

rill-IE  swift  horses  made  short  work  of  the  half  a 
mile  that  lay  between  the  cottage  and  the  vil 
lage,  and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  after  leaving 
home  the  cousins,  well  wrapped  up  in  furs  and  heavy 
coats,  Avere  perched  upon  the  box  beside  the  driver 
of  the  stage-coach  (in  summer  the  little  steamer 
Julia  Burton  takes  the  place  of  the  stage),  bound 
for  Augusta,  at  which  place  they  purchased  tickets 
for  Memphis.  In  due  time  they  arrived  at  Cairo, 
where  they  found  the  transfer-boat,  Underwriter, 
•which  was  to  take  them  to  Columbus.  Before  the 
boat  started,  they  had  ample  time  to  look  about 
them. 

"Is  this  the  Cairo  we  knew  during  the  war?" 
asked  Frank. 

"I  can  hardly  believe  it  is,"  answered  Archie. 
"  I  don't  see  a  single  gunboat." 

"There's  where  the  receiving-ship   used  to  lie," 
continued  Frank,  pointing  out  the  exact  spot.     "I 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  39 

shall  never  forget  how  homesick  I  was  on  the  morn 
ing  we  first  boarded  her,  or  the  look  of  astonish 
ment  your  face  wore  when  the  officer  who  mustered 
us  appointed  you  cook  of  our  mess.  A  nice  cook 
you  made,  didn't  you?" 

"  Humph  !  That  wasn't  as  bad  as  the  scrape  you 
got  into,"  retorted  Archie.  "  You  were  punished 
in  less  than  a  week  after  you  entered  the  service, 
and  I  was  in  four  years  and  never  received  a  repri 
mand.  In  less  than  two  hours  after  you  went 
aboard  the  receiving-ship,  you  had  to  wipe  up  the 
water  you  spilled  on  deck,  and  then  go  about  the 
vessel  trailing  a  swab  behind  you.  If  I  hadn't  taken 
pity  on  you,  you  might  have  been  carrying  that 
swab  yet.  But  were  not  those  excellent  pies  that 
we  stole  from  that  galley  ?" 

"  Ours  were ;  but  I  wonder  how  that  boatswain's 
mate  liked  his — the  one  that  contained  the  dose  of 
jalap?" 

The  cousins  conversed  in  this  way  until  the 
steamer  moved  off  into  the  river,  and  then  they 
went  into  the  cabin  and  sat  down  by  the  fire.  At 
nine  o'clock  they  reached  Columbus,  and  seated 
themselves  in  the  cars  bound  for  Memphis.  There 
they  took  passage  on  a  Washita  river  boat,  and  one 


40  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

morning,  while  fast  asleep  in  their  berths,  were 
aroused  by  the  steward,  who  informed  them  that 
their  destination  was  not  more  than  a  mile  ahead. 
By  the  time  they  were  dressed,  the  pilot  blew  tho 
whistle,  rang  the  signal  for  landing,  and  ten  minutes 
afterward  Frank  and  Archie  were  standing  on  the 
bank  beside  their  trunks,  gazing  alternately  at 
the  plantation-house,  which  was  about  two  hundred 
yards  away,  and  at  the  steamer  which  was  rapidly 
moving  up  the  river. 

Things  did  not  look  much  here  in  Louisiana  as 
they  did  in  the  state  they  had  just  left.  There  the 
thermometer  stood  fifteen  degrees  below  zero  on  the 
morning  they  began  their  journey,  and  on  the  way 
from  the  cottage  to  Lawrence,  they  passed  along  a 
road  which  had  been  shovelled  through  snow-drifts 
eight  feet  deep.  On  the  sides,  at  intervals  of  a 
hundred  yards  or  so,  were  excavations  into  which 
a  sleigh  might  turn  to  allow  another  to  pass  ;  and 
all  the  way  to  the  village  Uncle  Mike  was  obliged 
to  stand  upright  on  his  seat,  so  that  he  could  look 
over  the  top  of  the  drifts  and  thus  avoid  meeting  a 
team  in  the  narrow  part  of  the  road.  When  they 
got  into  the  stage  it  moved  out  on  the  river,  on 
which  the  ice  was  nearly  two  feet  thick,  and  using 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  41 

it  as  a  highway,  followed  it  clear  to  Augusta,  a  dis 
tance  of  a  hundred  miles.  But  here  in  Louisiana 
there  was  not  the  least  sign  of  snow  or  ice.  The 
morning  was  so  warm  that  the  boys  carried  their 
overcoats  across  their  arms,  the  grass  was  green 
and  fresh,  and  now  and  then  a  blue-bird  chirped 
merrily  among  the  boughs  overhead. 

The  old  plantation-house  looked  just  as  it  did  on 
the  night  that  Frank  and  his  fellow-fugitives  had 
first  seen  it.  There  was  the  barn  in  which  they 
had  stopped  to  hold  their  consultation,  the  fence, 
under  a  corner  of  which  Lieutenant  Somers  had 
been  laid  away,  bound  and  helpless,  to  await  their 
return,  and  Frank  could  show  Archie^the  very  spots 
on  which  he  and  George  had  stationed  their  men  on 
the  day  they  were  ordered  ashore  to  burn  the  house. 
While  he  was  pointing  out  the  familiar  objects  that 
met  his  gaze  on  every  side,  the  door  of  the  house 
was  slammed  violently,  and  a  figure  bounded  down 
the  steps  and  came  towards  them  at  a  rapid  run. 
It  was  George  Le  Dell.  They  knew  him  at  a  glance. 
His  face  wore  an  expression  of  unbounded  delight, 
and  when  he  reached  the  boys  he  threw  his  arms 
about  them  and  actually  hugged  them. 

"Why,    you  monster!"    he  exclaimed,    holding 


42  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Frank  off  at  arm's  length  and  looking  him  all  over; 
"  are  you  never  going  to  stop  running  up  towards 
the  clouds  and  swelling  out  about  the  shoulders? 
But  it  is  you,  isn't  it  ?  And  Archie,  too,  looking  as 
natural  as  life.  So  glad  to  see  you  !  I  have  been 
looking  for  you  every  day  since  your  letter  arrived, 
and  when  I  heard  that  boat  whistle  I  knew  you 
were  close  at  hand.  Come  right  into  the  house,  and 
never  mind  the  trunks.  I'll  send  a  man  after  them 
directly." 

Without  giving  his  visitors  time  to  return  his 
cordial  greeting,  George  linked  his  arms  through 
theirs  and  conducted  them  toward  the  plantation- 
house,  talking  rapidly  all  the  while.  He  led  them 
directly  to  his  room,  and  through  it  into  a  second 
cosy  apartment,  where  a  negro  was  engaged  in 
building  a  fire  in  the  grate ;  although  of  what  use 
a  fire  could  be  on  so  warm  a  morning  the  cousins 
were  at  loss  to  determine. 

"  Here  we  are,"  said  George  ;  "  and  in  the  same 
old  house,  too,  that  you  and  I  were  once  ordered 
ashore  to  burn  over  the  heads  of  my  mother  and 
sisters.  You  haven't  forgotten  it,  I  know.  While 
you  remain  with  us,  which  will  be  as  long  as  I  can 
keep  you,  just  consider  this  room  your  own,  and 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  48 

make  yourselves  as  free  in  it  as  you  would  at  home. 
If  you  want  anything,  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or 
night,  a  pull  at  that  bell-rope  will  bring  one  of  the 
darkies  up  in  short  order.  Make  haste  there, 
Stephen,  and  go  down  to  the  landing  and  bring  up 
those  trunks." 

Thus  discoursing,  George  relieved  his  friends  of 
their  hats  and  overcoats,  pushed  them  into  easy- 
chairs  in  front  of  the  fire,  and  depositing  himself  in 
another,  began  staring  at  them  as  if  he  had  not  quite 
made  up  his  mind  whether  he  was  awake  or  dream 
ing.  But  the  conversation  did  not  flag,  for  there 
were  too  many  questions  to  be  asked  and  answered 
on  both  sides.  Frank  and  Archie  described  how 
they  had  passed  the  three  years  of  their  separation, 
and  George  related  his  experience  in  the  cotton-fac 
tor's  office  in  Memphis,  and  told  how  that  when  he 
was  one  day  hurrying  to  his  desk  after  dinner,  he 
felt  himself  suddenly  seized,  and  looked  up  to  find 
himself  confronted  by  his  father  and  one  of  his 
brothers,  on  whose  faces  was  an  expression  very 
different  from  that  which  they  had  worn  the  last 
time  he  gazed  into  them.  The  stern  old  soldier,  un 
able  to  endure  the  separation  longer,  had  come  to 
Memphis  to  find  his  son,  and  take  him  back  to  his 


44  THE    SPORTSMAN  S    CLUB 

old  home.  He  was  ready  to  forgive  and  be  forgiven, 
and  so  was  George  ;  and  from  that  hour  the  world 
had  gone  smoothly  with  him.  He  occupied  the  poT 
sition  in  the  affection  of  his  relatives  he  had  held 
before  the  war  came  to  break  up  their  happy  family. 
It  took  George  half  an  hour  to  tell  his  story,  for  he 
dwelt  long  upon  all  the  little  incidents  (we  hurry 
over  them  because  we  have  matters  more  interesting 
to  talk  about)  ;  and  Frank  and  Archie,  who  could 
not  have  been  more  interested  in  his  affairs,  or  sym 
pathized  with  him  more  deeply  if  they  had  been  in 
the  same  situation  themselves,  listened  eagerly  to 
every  word. 

Just  as  George  concluded  his  story  some  one 
knocked  at  the  door,  and  came  in  without  waiting 
for  an  invitation.  Frank  knew  who  he  was,  even  be 
fore  the  introduction,  "  Captain  Nelson,  my  brother 
Edward," — was  gone  through.  He  was  one  of  the 
rebels  the  young  gunboat  officer  had  encountered  in 
the  parlor  on  that  long- to-be-remembered  night. 
One  by  one  George's  brothers  came  in  and  were 
presented  to  the  visitors ;  and  by  the  time  Stephen 
entered  to  announce  that  breakfast  was  ready,  the 
six  young  men,  who  had  once  been  in  arms  against 
each  other,  were  talking  and  laughing  together  with 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  45 

as  little  constraint  as  though  they  had  been  acquaint 
ances  and  fast  friends  from  their  earliest  recollection. 
When  they  descended  to  the  parlor  they  found  the 
General,  a  courtly,  dignified  old  gentleman,  his  wife 
arid  three  daughters  who  received  them  with  the 
same  cordiality  the  other  members  of  the  family  had 
exhibited.  Before  breakfast  was  over  the  cousins 
w--re  on  excellent  terms  with  every  one  about  the 
table  ;  and  that  was  not  to  be  wondered  at,  for  their 
host  and  his  family,  with  true  Southern  hospitality 
and  courtesy,  strove  to  the  utmost  to  make  them 
feel  that  they  were  among  friends. 

After  breakfast  the  cousins  were  again  conducted 
to  the  parlor,  and  the  time  was  passed  most  agreeably 
in  social  converse.  So  quickly  did  the  hours  fly 
by,  that  when  the  little  clock  on  the  mantel  chimed 
the  hour  of  four,  the  boys  were  surprised,  and  won 
dered  where  the  day  could  have  gone.  Then  the 
family  began  to  separate — the  General  to  his  office, 
Mrs.  Le  Dell  to  the  kitchen  to  superintend  the 
preparations  for  dinner,  three  of  his  sons  to  see  to 
affairs  about  the  plantation,  George  to  ride  to  the 
house  of  Lieutenant  Somers  to  inform  him  that  the 
expected  guests  had  arrived  ;  and  Frank  and  Archie 
were  left  alone  with  three  as  handsome  young  ladies 


46  -  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

as  one  could  find  in  a  month's  travel.  Archie  was 
glad  it  was  so ;  for,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  he 
had  discovered  that  there  was  something  particularly 
interesting  in  George's  youngest  sister.  Whether 
it  was  her  black,  curly  hair,  her  mischievous  eyes,  or 
her  lively,  witty  conversation,  it  is  hard  to  tell;  but 
it  was  something,  and  the  way  the  young  lady  looked 
at  him  now  and  then,  made  him  believe  that  the  in 
terest  was  not  confined  entirely  to  himself.  Conse 
quently  when  Annie — that  was  her  name — seated 
herself  at  the  piano,  and  after  running  her  fingers  over 
the  keys,  sang  a  portion  of  an  old  and  familiar  song, 
and  Frank  arose  from  his  seat  and  took  his  stand 
beside  her  to  listen,  Archie  was  not  very  well 
pleased.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  was  pos 
sessed  with  a  feeling  of  jealousy,  which  grew  stronger 
every  moment,  until  finally  he  wished  to  goodness 
that  Frank  was  off  bear  hunting  with  somebody — 
that  he  was  back  in  Lawrence,  or  in  Guinea — in 
fact  anywhere,  so  that  he  could  not  talk  to  Annie. 

'"  Hurrah!  hurrah  !  for  Southern  rights,  hurrah  ! 
Hurrah,  for  the  bonnie  blue  flag 
That  bears  the  single  star  !'' 

So  sang  the  young  lady.      u  Have  you  ever  heard 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  47 

that  before,  Captain?"  she  asked,  looking  up  into 
the  face  of  the  handsome  young  Hercules  at  her 
side,  with  an  expression  that  Archie  could  not  bear 
to  see. 

"I  have,"  replied  Frank;  and,  glancing  out  at 
the  window,  he  continued :  "  The  first  time  I  heard 
you  sing  that  chorus,  I  was  standing  out  there  beside 
that  evergreen.  You  did  not  know  that  you  had 
an  interested  and  admiring  audience  of  runaway 
prisoners,  did  you  ?  Will  you  oblige  me  by  sing 
ing  the  song  through  ?" 

Annie  would  and  did.  When  the  song  was  fin 
ished  Frank  did  not  immediately  return  to  his  seat/ 
as  his  cousin  hoped  he  would,  but  stood  at  the  piano 
talking  over  those  old  times,  recollections  of  which 
the  song  had  brought  back  to  them.  And  while 
Archie  listened  and  tried  to  laugh  when  they  did,  he 
heartily  wished  it  had  been  he  instead  of  Frank  who 
had  had  all  those  adventures.  The  young  officer 
talked  so  smoothly  arid  easily,  and  was  so  enter 
taining,  and  his  fair  auditor  listened  so  eagerly  while 
he  told  of  his  wonderful  escape  from  the  prison  at 
Shreveport,  and  described  his  battle  with  the  blood 
hounds  that  had  been  following  his  trail !  Archie 
was  disgusted.  The  hours  dragged  heavily  with 


48  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

him  after  that,  but  darkness  came  at  last,  and  with 
it  Dick  Somers,  Frank's  old  prisoner,  who  was  as 
friendly  as  one  could  be.  Although  there  was  a 
multitude  of  subjects  to  be  talked  over,  the  company 
separated  at  an  early  hour,  for  the  Lieutenant 
brought  the  information  that  a  party  of  the  settlers 
had  made  arrangements  for  a  bear  hunt  on  the  fol 
lowing  day,  and  also  an  invitation  for  George  and 
.his  guests  to  participate,  which  was  of  course  ac 
cepted.  The  hounds  were  to  be  afield  at  daybreak, 
and  every  hunter  was  to  be  at  his  post  by  sunrise. 
There  was  one  of  the  party  who  told  himself  over 
and  over  again  that  he  wouldn't  go,  and  that  was 
Archie.  Bears  were  at  a  discount  with  him  now. 
He  would  have  a  splitting  headache,  the  toothache, 
a  lame  finger — anything  that  would  furnish  him 
with  an  excuse  to  stay  at  home. 

Although  the  party  separated  early,  they  did  not 
all  retire  early.  It  was  nearly  midnight  before  the 
cousins  went  to  bed.  They  sat  down  in  George's 
room  for  "just  a  moment's  chat,"  but  one  subject  of 
conversation  led  to  another,  and  three  hours  flew 
away  before  they  were  aware  of  it.  The  first  thing 
Frank  and  Archie  did  when  they  went  up  stairs 
was  to  prepare  for  the  morning's  sport  by  taking 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  49 

out  their  hunting  rigs,  consisting  among  other  things 
of  weapons,  heavy  top  boots,  slouch  hats  and  suits 
of  gray  corduroy.  The  sight  of  the  Maynard  rifles 
excited  George's  interest  and  curiosity  at  once,  for 
they  were  something  he  had  never  seen  before. 
They  were  neat,  handy  little  weapons,  provided 
with  globe  sights  that  could  be  raised  or  lowered  in 
an  instant ;  and,  although  very  light  and  so  small 
that  they  could  be  packed  away  in  travelling-bags, 
they  nevertheless  carried  a  ball  sufficiently  heavy  to 
knock  over  the  largest  game.  George  went  into 
ecstasies  over  them. 

"  They  shoot  just  as  well  as  they  look,"  said 
Frank  ;  "  and  their  range  is  something  to  wonder 
at.  At  a  distance  of  a  hundred  yards  I  can  put 
ten  shots,  one  after  the  other,  into  a  paper  four 
inches  square,  with  open  sights  ;  and  with  the  globe 
sights  I  -can  do  almost  as  well  at  two  hundred. 
Archie  has  done  even  better.  But  that  is  not  the 
only  beauty  of  this  weapon,"  continued  Frank,  as 
he  began  rummaging  about  in  his  trunk.  "See  here. 
Here's  a  barrel  that  shoots  shot.  If  we  want  to 
hunt  small  game,  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  take  this 
rifle-barrel  out  of  the  stock — and  that  is  but  a 
second's  work,"  he  added,  suiting  the  action  to  the 
4 


50  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

word — "  and  put  the  shot-gun  barrel  in.  There  you 
are,  and  that's  as  fine  a  bird  gun  as  there  is  in  the 
parish,  I'll  warrant.  I  can  kill  quail  on  the  wing 
with  it  at  eighty  yards,  and  have  done  it  often." 

When  George  had  examined  the  Maynards  to  hi? 
satisfaction,  he  exhibited  his  own  weapons,  and  from 
them  he  went  to  the  curiosities  in  his  room.  Finally 
he  brought  out  his  album  and  some  of  his  books. 

"  Here's  a  little  work  I  found  in  New  Orleans 
the  other  day,"  said  he,  handing  Frank  a  volume 
neatly  bound  in  brown  and  gold.  "  It  is  entitled 
the  '  Guilford  Highflyers.'  The  title  attracted  my 
attention,  and  I  bought  it  just  to  see  what  it  meant. 
It  is  a  juvenile  work,  but  I  became  deeply  interested 
in  it,  and  never  laid  it  down  until  I  had  finished  it." 

"Why,"  shouted  Archie,  throwing  up  his  hands, 
and  laying  back  his  head  preparatory  to  indulging 
in  a  hearty  laugh  ;  "  that  is  one  of  my  worthy " 

When  he  had  gone  thus  far,  he  caught  Frank's 
eye,  and  the  expression  in  it  told  him  that  he  had 
said  quite  enough. 

u  One  of  your  worthy  what?"  asked  George. 

u  Why,  one  of — let  me  see,"  replied  Archie, 
placing  his  finger  on  his  forehead ;  "  I  thought  I 
could  recall  the  name  of  the  author.  '  Guilford 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  51 

Highflyers !"  he  added,  reading  the  title  of  the 
book,  and  bending  low  to  conceal  his  features  from 
George,  while  Frank,  whose  face  was  scarlet,  seemed 
to  be  very  much  interested  in  a  picture  in  the  album  ; 
"What  were  they?" 

"  Why,  that  was  the  name  given  to  a  lot  of 
horses  and  hounds  that  a  party  of  boys  used  to 
hunt  with  ;  and  they  were  highflyers  indeed,  es 
pecially  the  horses,  which  thought  no  more  of  taking 
a  ten-rail  fence,  or  a  fifteen-foot  ditch,  than  they 
did  of  eating  their  regular  rations  of  oats.  There 
are  to  be  two  more  volumes  in  the  series,  and  as 
soon  as  they  appear  I  am  going  to  write  for  them. 
It  is  entitled  the  '  Buckhorn  Lodge  '  series,  and — "' 

"  I  say,  George,"  interrupted  Frank,  who,  for 
some  reason  or  other,  seemed  very  anxious  to  turn 
the  conversation  into  another  channel;  "who  are 
these  ?" 

As  he  spoke,  he  handed  the  album  to  his  friend, 
and  pointed  to  the  picture  that  had  attracted  his  at 
tention.  It  was  a  photograph  of  a  boat's  crew  in 
costume,  four  oarsman  and  a  coxswain,  sitting  in 
their  shell.  The  oarsman  sat  with  their  bodies  bent 
forward,  and  their  oars  thrown  back,  looking  at  the 
coxswain  as  if  waiting  for  the  word  to  go.  The 


52  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

picture  was  an  excellent  one,  and  the  features  of 
each  of  the  crew  were  so  clearly  portrayed  that  one 
who  had  ever  seen  them  would  readily  recognise 
them. 

"  Those  fellows,"  replied  George,  "comprise  the 
Sportsman's  Club.  They  are  old  friends  and  school 
mates  of  mine,  and  five  better  boys  one  never  took 
by  the  hand.  They  live  on  the  Gulf  coast  in  this 
State,  about  two  hundred  miles  from  here.  This 
one,"  he  added,  placing  his  finger  on  the  stroke, 
"  is  Walter  Gaylord,  the  president." 

"  Walter  Gaylord!"  repeated  Frank  ;  "  you  were 
speaking  of  him  this  afternoon.  Now  look  here," 
he  continued,  suddenly  recalling  to  mind  some 
scraps  of  the  conversation  that  had  followed  the 
mention  of  Walter's  name  ;  "  you  remarked  inci 
dentally  that  you  had  received  a  very  pressing  invi 
tation  to  spend  the  holidays  at  his  house,  and  the 
tone  in  which  you  said  it  made  me  believe  that  you 
are  disappointed  in  not  being  able  to  accept  it.  1 
am  afraid  our  presence  here  interferes  with  your  ar 
rangements." 

"No,  it  doesn't,"  returned  George,  quickly  and 
emphatically.  "  Your  presence  here  just  completes 
my  arrangements ;  and  you  are  well  enough  ac- 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  53 

quainted  with  me  to  know  that  if  I  hadn't  wanted 
you,  I  should  not  have  asked  you  to  come.  But 
since  you  have  brought  up  the  subject,  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  was  thinking  of.  I  thought — I  was 
talking  with  mother  to  day,  and  she  thought  of — " 

"  Well?"  said  Frank,  when  George  hesitated. 
'   "  Well,   the    invitation   includes   you — both    of 
you." 

"  Us  !"  exclaimed  Archie.  "  Why,  we  have  never 
seen  the  Sportsman's  Club,  or  even  heard  of  them 
before." 

"  No  matter,  they  have  heard  of  you.  Now,  if 
it  doesn't  make  any  very  particular  difference  to  you 
where  you  spend  the  holidays,  I  was  thinking — 
mother  says  there  would  be  no  impropriety  in  it — " 

"  I  don't  think  there  would  either,"  said  Archie, 
when  George  stammered  and  stopped.  "  We'll  do 
it,  if  you  say  so.  What  is  it?" 

"  I  will  tell  you  after  I  have  shown  you  the  invi 
tation,"  said  George.  "If  it  is  not  as  cordial  as 
you  could  wish,  why  there's  an  end  of  the  matter." 

The  cousins  could  not  imagine  what  their  friend 
wag  trying  to  get  at,  but  they  found  out  when  he 
placed  Eugene's  letter  and  Uncle  Dick's  in  their 
hands.  Then  they  learned  that  the  Gaylords,  young 


54  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

and  old,  were  very  anxious  that  George  should  make 
one  of  their  party,  and  that  no  matter  how  many 
visitors  he  was  expecting,  he  must  come  and  bring 
them  with  him,  for  the  house  was  large  enough  to 
hold  them  ;  and  the  fact  that  they  were  George's 
friends,  would  be  enough  to  insure  them  a  warm 
welcome  from  the  Club.  Eugene's  letter  was  as 
cordial  as  Featherweight  could  have  wished  it,  and 
when  Archie  had  read  it,  he  made  up  his  mind  that 
if  he  knew  the  writer  he  should  like  him.  Uncle 
Dick's  was  a  novelty  in  its  way,  and  made  both  the 
cousins  laugh  ;  for  it  was  nothing  less  than  a  positive 
order  for  George  to  report  himself,  in  company  with 
his  friends,  at  the  mansion  with  the  least  possible 
delay,  and  was  expressed  in  language  which  would 
have  appeared  ridiculous  had  it  come  from  any  one 
besides  the  bluff  old  sailor. 

"They  certainly  want  you,"  said  Archie,  "and 
you  need  not  deprive  yourself  of  the  pleasure  of 
their  society  on  our  account." 

"  Of  course  not,"  assented  Frank. 

"Will  you  go  ?"  asked  George,  joyfully. 

"  Being  your  guests,  we  are  under  your  direc 
tions." 

"  Then  it  is  settled,"  returned  George,  and  the 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  55 

cousins  knew  by  the  way  he  said  it  that  he  was  im 
mensely  delighted.  "  We  will  go,  and  I  can  assure 
you  that  you  will  enjoy  yourselves  to  your  hearts' 
content.  But  I  declare,  fellows,  it  is  twelve  o'clock. 
I  could  talk  all  night,  but  you  had  better  get  a  wink 
of  sleep ;  for,  take  my  word  for  it,  if  you  intend  to 
follow  Dick  Somers  to-morrow  you  may  make  up 
your  minds  to  have  a  hard  time  of  it.  He  is  a  ter 
rible  rider,  and  would  almost  as  soon  ruin  the  best 
horse  he's  got,  as  to  miss  being  in  at  the  death." 

Frank,  taking  the  lamp  George  handed  him, 
started  at  once  for  his  room,  and  Archie,  who  during 
the  last  few  minutes  had  been  growing  very  pensive, 
followed  slowly  after,  holding  onevhand  to  his  face, 
and  looking  as  miserable  and  forlorn  as  can  well  be 
imagined.  The  mention  of  the  hunt  that  was  to 
come  off  on  the  morrow,  recalled  to  his  mind  the 
strategy  of  which  he  had  determined  to  make  use. 
He  told  himself  that  if  he  intended  to  have  any 
thing  the  matter  with  him,  so  that  he  could  find  an 
excuse  for  staying  at  home,  it  was  time  he  was  up 
and  doing.  He  could  suffer  nicely  all  night,  and  be 
so  much  worse  in  the  morning  that  he  could  not 
possibly  mount  a  horse. 


56  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  Hallo  !  What's  the  matter  with  you  ?"  demand 
ed  Frank. 

"  Toothache  ?"  asked  George,  in  a  tone  of  great 
sympathy  and  concern. 

Archie  mumbled  out  something  which  the  boys 
took  for  an  answer  in  the  affirmative.  "  I  never 
knew  him  to  have  it  before,"  said  Frank  with  a  mis 
chievous  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"  Well,  I  know  by  experience  that  there  is  no 
fun  in  it,"  said  George.  "  Does  it  generally  last 
long  with  you  ?" 

Archie  muttered  another  indistinct  reply,  which 
George,  as  before,  thought  he  understood. 

"  It  lasts  for  days  and  weeks,  does  it?  That's 
unfortunate.  But  I  hope  it  will  leave  off  before 
morning,  for  if  it  doesn't  you'll  be  on  the  sick  list. 
Of  course  you  can't  ride  with  the  toothache,  and 
after  passing  a  sleepless  night,  too.  But  I'll  stay 
at  home  to  keep  you  company." 

"  0  no  !"  replied  Archie,  speaking  plainly  enough 
this  time.  "  I  wouldn't  have  ycru  miss  the  hunt  on 
my  account." 

"Perhaps  I  can  relieve  you,"  continued  George. 
"  I  always  keep  a  remedy  on  hand.  Sit  down." 

Archie   threw    himself  heavily  into  the-  nearest 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  57 

chair,  and  George  pulled  out  one  of  the  drawers  of 
his  bureau,  and  began  overhauling  the  contents. 
Presently  he  brought  out  a  small  vial,  tightly  corked 
up,  and  when  the  cork  was  removed,  the  odor  of 
kreosote  filled  the  room.  George  found  a  pin,  wrap 
ped  a  small  piece  of  cotton  around  the  point,  dipped 
the  cotton  into  the  liquid  again  and  again  until  it 
was  thoroughly  saturated,  and  advanced  toward 
Archie.  "Now  then,"  said  he,  "throw  back  your 
head  and  show  me  the  cavity  in  your  tooth." 

This  was  something  Archie  could  not  do,  simply 
because  there  was  no  cavity  to  show.     A  sounder 
set  of  teeth  than  those  he  carried  in  his  head  could 
not  be  found  in  Louisiana.       "No,  no!"  he  cried 
"Let  me  put  it  in." 

Archie  knew  very  well  that  he  did  not  need  any 
medicine,  and  he  knew  too  that  he  could  not  well 
refuse  to  use  it,  for  he  must  keep  up  appearances. 
He  seized  the  pin,  and  being  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  nature  of  the  remedy  he  was  about  to  apply, 
and  disregarding  George's  emphatic  injunctions  to 
be  very  careful,  he  recklessly  thrust  the  cotton  be 
tween  the  gum  and  his  upper  lip.  In  an  instant 
more  he  was  doubled  up  in  his  chair  writhing  in 
agony — no  sham  about  it  this  time.  The  powerful 


58  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

irritant  ran  all  through  his  mouth  and  over  his  chin, 
and  everywhere  it  touched  it  scorched  like  a  red-hot 
iron. 

"Feel  any  better?"  asked  George. 

"No!"  shouted  Archie.  "You  must  have  had 
the  concentrated  extract  of  three  or  four  volcanoes 
on  that  cotton." 

"Keep  it  there,"  said  George  encouragingly. 
"It  always  helps  me." 

Archie,  whose  mouth  was  like  the  inside  of  a  fur 
nace  seven  times  heated,  could  make  no  reply. 
Wishing  his  friend  good-night  in  a  very  faint  and 
indistinct  tone  of  voice,  he  staggered  to  his  feet  and 
went  into  his  room,  followed  by  Frank,  who  closed 
the  door  after  him. 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  59 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A    SURPRISE. 

~|~T  is  hard  to  tell  who  was  the  more  astonished  at 
the  result  of  this  piece  of  strategy,  Archie  or  his 
cousin.  The  former  seated  himself  in  front  of  the 
fire,  and  after  spitefully  ejecting  the  cotton,  which  felt 
like  a  piece  of  red-hot  iron,  leaned  his  head  on  his 
hands,  and  looked  the  very  picture  of  misery  ;  while 
Frank,  who  understood  the  whole  matter  as  well  as 
if  Archie  had  consulted  him  beforehand,  rolled  on 
the  bed,  convulsed  with  laughter  which  he  could 
scarcely  restrain.  In  all  his  life  he  had  never  before 
known  Archie  to  be  guilty  of  an  act  of  deception, 
and  he  told  himself  that  he  richly  deserved  the  pun 
ishment  he  had  received.  But  he  did  not  spend  as 
much  thought  on  this,  as  he  did  on  another  feature 
of  the  case.  It  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody 
good,  and  Frank  believed  he  saw  a  way  to  profit  by 
what  had  just  taken  place,  or  at  least  to  secure  relief 
from  a  species  of  annoyance  to  which  he  had  been 
subjected  for  some  time  past. 


60  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Perhaps  some  of  our  readers  will  remember  that 
a  few  years  ago  a  strange  sort  of  epidemic  (by  the 
way  it  has  not  yet  wholly  subsided)  of  which  no 
mention  is  made  in  medical  works,  swept  through  the 
country.  Its  attacks  were  principally  confined  to 
the  juvenile  portion  of  the  community,  and  although 
never  fatal,  except  in  so  far  as  the  hopes  of  some  of 
its  victims  were  concerned,  its  symptoms  were 
alarming.  It  manifested  itself  mostly  through  the 
press,  and  amateur  papers  sprang  up  on  all  sides, 
like  mushrooms  on  a  drizzly  morning,  and  books 
written  by  boys  appeared  by  the  dozen.  Among 
the  host  of  youngsters  attacked  by  this  epidemic 
were  our  two  friends,  Frank  and  Archie.  The  latter 
especially  was  taken  very  badly,  although  he  was 
soon  over  it.  He  conceived  a  sudden  and  violent 
dislike  for  engineering,  and  wondered  why  he  had 
been  so  stupid  as  to  bother  his  head  with  so  laborious 
a  profession,  while  this  easy  road  to  fame  and  fortune 
had  been  open  to  him  all  the  while.  If  other  boys 
could  write  for  the  press,  so  could  he  ;  and  to  prove 
the  fact  he  chose  a  subject  and  went  to  work  at  once. 
lie  wrote  hard  all  one  day,  and  late  in  the  evening 
a  story  of  fifteen  pages,  entitled  "  The  Old  Guide's 
Escape,"  addressed  to  the  publishers  of  a  popular 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  61 

weekly  paper,  was  sent  to  the  post-office  through  Un 
cle  Mike ;  the  newly-fledged  author  soon  afterward 
tumbling  into  bed,  as  tired  as  he  would  have  been 
if  he  had  followed  a  trout  stream  all  day,  and  fully 
assured  in  his  own  mind  that  he  would  some  fine 
morning  awake  to  find  himself  rich  and  famous. 
From  that  time  he  neglected  his  books,  and  spent 
two  hours  every  day  after  breakfast  in  roaming 
about  the  woods  and  fields,  planning  stories,  and  the 
rest  of  the  day  in  writing  them.  He  watched  the 
post-office  closely,  but  at  the  end  of  two  wreeks  noth 
ing  had  been  heard  from  the  publishers  concerning 
the  story  that  was  to  take  everybody  by  surprise, 
and  Archie  began  to  lose  confidence.  Another 
week  passed  and  still  another,  and  finally  when  he 
one  day  bought  a  copy  of  the  paper  at  the  news 
dealer's,  almost  the  first  thing  his  eyes  rested  on  as 
he  opened  it  was  "  The  Old  Guide's  Escape  "  among 
the  "  respectfully  declined."  That  was  enough  for 
Archie.  Indignant  and  discouraged,  he  bundled  all 
his  manuscripts  into  the  fire,  declaring  angrily  that 
there  wasn't  a  publisher  in  the  world  who  knew  a 
good  thing  when  he  saw  it. 

"  It's  no  use,  Frank,"  said  he,  dolefully.     "  There 
are  too  many  in  the  profession  already ;  and  a  new 


62  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

writer,  no  matter  how  interesting  he  may  be,  has  no 
show." 

"  There's  always  plenty  of  room  at  the  top," 
replied  Frank. 

"  Yes  ;  but  you  and  I  will  never  get  there.  What 
was  the  fate  of  your  manuscript  ?" 

"  I  haven't  sent  off  any  yet." 

"  When  you  do,  let  me  know,  will  you  ?" 

"  Perhaps  so." 

Frank  set  about  his  work  with  the  same  dogged 
determination  to  succeed  that  he  would  have  ex 
hibited  while  in  command  of  the  Boxer,  had  Cap 
tain  Wilson  ordered  him  to  whip  out  a  battery. 
None  of  his  friends  could  tell  how  many  manuscripts 
he  sent  away,  or  whether  they  were  accepted  or 
declined.  All  they  knew  was,  that  Frank  went 
regularly  to  the  office  every  morning  (he  was  then 
studying  law  with  a  prominent  attorney  in  the 
village) ;  that  when  he  returned  home  at  three 
o'clock,  he  took  an  hour  for  a  gallop  on  Roderick  ; 
and  that  after  supper  he  went  to  his  desk,  and  seldom 
arose  from  it  before  eleven  o'clock.  Archie,  amazed 
at  his  cousin's  perseverance  and  industry,  watched 
and  questioned,  but  without  learning  anything.  He 
wanted  Frank  to  succeed  in  the  end,  but  misery 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  63 

loves  company,  and  if  he  would  only  fail  once  or 
twice  in  the  beginning,  so  that  he  could  laugh  at 
him,  what  a  comfort  it  would  be  !  He  had  a  good 
deal  to  say  in  Frank's  hearing  about  the  "Boy 
writers,"  "  Amateur  papers"  and  "  Rejected  manu 
scripts,"  and  always  spoke  of  him  as  "My  cousin, 
the  popular  juvenile  author." 

This  state  of  aifairs  continued  for  more  than  a 
year,  and  at  last  the  results  of  Frank's  patient 
labor  made  themselves  manifest.  One  day,  while 
he  was  out  for  his  exercise,  Archie  entered  the  study, 
and  found  on  the  table  three  beautifully  bound  and 
illustrated  juvenile  books.  He  knew  who  the  author 
was,  for  he  recognised  his  cousin's  style  at  once; 
and  in  the  margin  of  one  of  the  volumes  were 
several  pencil  marks,  where  Frank  had  noted  the 
mistakes  made  by  the  printer.  It  is  hard  to  tell 
whether  Archie  was  the  more  amazed  or  gratified. 
He  certainly  was  not  envious,  although  one  would 
have  thought  so  from  his  behavior.  He  criticised 
the  books  most  unmercifully,  and  had  more  than 
ever  to  say  about  "  boring  the  public"  and  Frank's 
"  diseased  propensity  for  writing."  If  his  cousin 
had  not  been  one  of  the  best-natured  fellows  in  the 
world  he  could  scarcely  have  endured  it,  for  Archie 


64  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

never  allowed  an  opportunity  to  torment  him  to 
slip  by  unimproved  ;  but  he  made  no  remark,  know 
ing  that  there  was  but  one-way  to  put  a  stop  to  the 
annoyance.  He  had  waited  patiently  for  a  year, 
and  now  the  opportunity  to  "get  even"  was  pre 
sented  when  he  least  expected  it. 

"  Well,  my  young  boy,  how  do  you  feel  by  this 
time  ?"  asked  Frank,  as  soon  as  he  had  choked 
down  his  laughter,  so  that  he  could  speak.  "  Does 
your  tooth  ache  very  badly?" 

"My  mouth  is  on  fire.  It  hurts  awfully,"  was 
the  faint  reply. 

"  There  is  no  sham  about  it  now,  is  there?" 

"  Sham  ?"  repeated  Archie,  looking  over  his 
shoulder  at  his  cousin. 

"  You  must  have  been  taken  very  suddenly, 
seeing  that  you  have  not  been  in  the  house  twenty- 
four  hours  and  never  saw  her  before." 

"Her!  Who?" 

"  0,  I  don't  suppose  you  have  the  least  idea  what 
I  mean,  but  I  must  say  that  you  are  rather  red  in 
the  face  for  an  innocent  boy.  You  came  very  near 
telling  George  that  I  wrote  that  book." 

"  I'll  never  do  it  again,"  said  Archie,  who  knew 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  65 

very  well  what  his  cousin  was  coming  to.     "  I  spoke 
before  I  thought." 

"  All  right ;  but  don't  repeat  the  offence,  for  if 
you  do,  or  if  you  so  much  as  hint  at  what  you  call 
my  'itch  for  scribbling,'  I  shall  be  obliged  to  say  in 
self-defence  that  you  had  the  toothache  in  order 
that  you  might  remain  at  home  with  a  very  hand 
some  and  interesting " 

"  That's  enough !"  exclaimed  Archie,  hastily. 
"  It's  a  bargain.  I'll  never  speak  of  it  again." 

"  All  right,"  replied  Frank  again.  "  Good-night. 
Thank  goodness  I  am  square  with  him  at  last,"  he 
added,  mentally,  and  with  something  that  sounded 
like  a  sigh  of  relief.  u  From  this  time  forward  I 
shall  have  a  little  peace." 

So  saying,  Frank,  who  had  been  leisurely  divest 
ing  himself  of  his  clothing  while  he  was  talking, 
tumbled  into  bed  and  hid  his  head  under  the  quilts 
to  smother  his  laughter,  leaving  Archie  sitting  by 
the  fire  in  no  enviable  frame  of  mind.  The  latter 
would  have  given  his  horse  to  any  one  who  would 
accept  him,  if  he  could  only  have  wiped  out  the 
events  of  the  last  hour.  The  secret  of  his  tooth 
ache  was  known  to  Frank — the  very  one  of  all 
others  from  whom  he  had  most  wished  to  keep  it 
5 


66  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

hidden.  He  despised  himself  for  the  deception  of 
which  he  had  been  guilty  ;  and  what  if  George  and 
his  brothers,  and  the  rest  of  the  family  should  find 
it  out  !  Wouldn't  they  despise  him,  too  !  Archie 
sat  revolving  such  disagreeable  questions  as  these  in 
his  mind,  until  a  gentle  snore,  coming  from  Frank's 
direction,  aroused  him. 

"I  ought  to  be  asleep,  too,"  thought  he;  "If  I 
intend  to  go  on  that  bear  hunt  to-morrow.  And  I 
do  intend  to  go,  if  I  have  to  hire  some  of  the  Gene 
ral's  darkies  to  carry  me  on  a  litter.  I've  learned 
a  lesson  to-night  that  I  shall  not  soon  forget.  I'll 
never  tell  a  falsehood,  or  act  one  again,  the  longest 
day  I  live." 

With  this  praiseworthy  resolution,  Archie  went 
to  bed.  How  long  he  was  kept  awake  by  the  pain 
of  his  burning  mouth  he  did  not  know;  but  he 
went  off  into  the  land  of  dreams  at  last,  and,  it 
seemed  to  him  had  not  slept  more  than  five  minutes, 
when  he  was  aroused  by  a  noise  in  the  room,  and 
started  up  to  see  Stephen  placing  a  lamp  on  the 
table. 

44  Wake  up  dar,  gemmen,"  said  the  negro. 
'•  Breakfas'  am  all  ready,  an'  de  bosses  at  de  door. 
Marse  Archie,  Marse  George  say  how  you  feel 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  -    67 

dis  fine   mornin  ?  an'  if  you  wants  some  more   of 
dat  'sote?" 

"  Some  more  of  that  what?''  asked  Archie. 

"  Some  more  of  dat  'sote,  what  you  put  in  your 
tooth  las'  night." 

"No,"  answered  Archie,  emphatically;  while  a 
smothered  laugh  coming  from  the  front  side  of  the 
bed,  showed  that  there  was  at  least  one  amused  and 
interested  listener.  "  Tell  him  that  I  am  very 
much  obliged  to  him.  I  wonder  if  George  suspects 
anything!"  he  added,  to  himself.  "If  I  thought 
he  did,  I  would  be  on  my  way  home  before  night. 
If  every  boy  in  the  world  who  had  done  a  mean 
act,  feels  as  sneaking  after  it  as  I  do  this  morning, 
[  wonder  he  is  ever  guilty  of  the  like  a  second  time. 
What  are  you  looking  at,  Frank  ?  You  needn't 
go  to  laughing  again.  You  thought  I  didn't  hear 
you  last  night,  but  I  did.  Do  you  see  anything 
strange  about  me  that  you  stare  at  me  so  ?" 

"  Go  and  look  in  the  glass,"  replied  Frank. 

Archie  went,  and  was  almost  overwhelmed  with 
surprise  and  mortification  to  find  that  the  powerful 
medicine  he  had  used  for  his  toothache,  had  ex 
pended  a  good  share  of  its  strength  on  his  face.  His 
shin  looked  as  if  it  had  come  in  contact  with  a  hot 


68  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

stove.     It  was  painful,  too,  and  would  not  wash  off 
with  all  his  scrubbing. 

"  Now,  that's  a  nice-looking  countenance  for  one 
to  carry  to  the  breakfast-table,  and  among  strangers, 
too,"  said  Archie,  ruefully.  "  Frank,  I  wish  you 
would  stop  your  laughing." 

u  0  dear  !"  exclaimed  his  cousin,  holding  his  side 
with  one  hand  and  wiping  his  eyes  with  the  other; 
"  I  am  afraid  this  will  be  the  death  of  me — I  am, 
really." 

Just  then  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and 
George  came  in.  Seeing  Archie  standing  before 
the  glass  with  his  handkerchief  over  his  mouth,  his 
face  at  once  assumed  an  expression  of  great  concern. 
Archie  looked  him  squarely  in  the  eye,  intent  on 
discovering,  if  he  could,  any  signs  that  George  sus 
pected  him  ;  but  to  his  great  relief,  he  saw  nothing 
to  indicate  it. 

"How  is  that  miserable  tooth  this  morning?" 
asked  George. 

"  It  is  all  right — but  look  there,"  replied  Archie, 
removing  his  handkerchief  and  exhibiting  his  chin. 

"Well,  I  declare!"  exclaimed  George,  greatly 
astonished,  and  more  than  half  inclined  to  laugh 
outright.  "  I  didn't  tell  you  to  put  that  stuff  on 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  69 

your  face,  did  I?  But  never  mind.  It  cured  the 
toothache,  as  I  knew  it  would,  and  that  mark  will 
wear  off  in  a  day  or  too.  Now,  if  you  are  all  ready, 
' will  go  down  to  breakfast." 
"  I — I — don't  believe  I  care  for  any,"  said 
Archie. 

"  Nonsense.  You  can't  ride  all  day  without  some- 
;hing  to  eat,  and  you'll  see  no  one  at  table  besides 
'ather  and  my  brothers." 

Archie    was  greatly  relieved   to    hear    this,  and 
ifter  a  little  argument  allowed  himself  to   be  per- 
iuaded  to    accompany   George   and    Frank    to  the 
>reakfast-room.     The  General  and   his  older  sons, 
ho  were  waiting  for  them,  looked  at  Archie  in  as 
tonishment  ;     and   the    words    of    sympathy    they 
uttered  after  listening  to  George's  explanation,  made 
him  feel  meaner  than  ever.     But   Annie  was  not 
there  to  laugh  at  him,  and  he  told  himself  that  by 
the  time  night  came  he  would  not  be   ashamed   to 
meet  her,  for  he  was  resolved  to  distinguish  himself 
during  the  day  in  some  way  or  other. 

Breakfast  being  over,  the  cousins  went  back  to 
their  room  for  their  hats,  boots  and  weapons  ;  and 
when  they  returned  found  their  friends  standing  on 
the  porch.  They  were  all  armed  with  heavy  double- 


70  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

barrel  shot-guns,  and  carried  buuting-horns  over 
their  shoulders.  In  front  of  the  house  were  seven 
horses,  one  for  each  of  the  party,  held  by  three  or 
four  negro  grooms,  and  a  dozen  hounds  were  walkii-g 
restlessly  about  among  them,  waiting  for  the  word  to 
start. 

"Now  then,  young  gentlemen,"  said  the  General, 
while  the  party  were  adjusting  their  spurs  and  pull 
ing  on  their  gloves,  "this  is  new  business  to  you, 
isn't  it?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  Frank.  "We  have  never 
had  much  experience  in  following  the  hounds,  or  in 
bear-hunting  either." 

As  he  said  this  he  thought  of  the  memorable  day 
on  which  he  had  followed  a  wounded  bear  to  her  den 
and  captured  her  cubs,  and  of  the  morning  when  he 
stood  single-handed  and  alone,  facing  an  enraged 
grizzly  and  covering  the  retreat  of  his  terrified 
companions.  If  Frank's  new  friends  had  been  ac 
quainted  with  these  incidents  in  his  life,  they  might 
have  had  a  different  opinion  of  his  abilities  as  a 
hunter. 

"Which  of  you  is  the  better  rider?"  continued 
the  General.  "  There's  a  steady  old  hack  that  any 
body  can  ride,"  said  he,  pointing  to  a  large  gray 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  71 

horse  which  reminded  Frank  of  his  favorite  at  home, 
"and  he's  got  plenty  of  speed  in  him  too  ;  but  that 
bay  mare  is  a  vixen,  both  by  name  and  in  disposition." 

"Let  me  have  her,  please/'  exclaimed  Archie. 
"  One  who  has  backed  such  a  horse  as  King  James 
need  not  be  afraid  of  that  mare,"  he  added,  to  him 
self.  "If  I  don't  get  a  chance  to  shoot  the  bear,  I 
will  at  least  show  them  that  I  can  ride.  I  will  sur 
prise  some  of  them  before  night." 

"  You'll  have  your  hands  full,  Archie,  if  you  take 
her,"  said  George.  "  She  has  thrown  all  the  best 
riders  among  the  negroes." 

"  I'd  like  to  see  what  I  can  do  with  her.  If  I 
can't  manage  her  I  will  turn  her  over  to  Frank." 

"  Take  her,  then,"  said  the  General,  "  and  Frank 
shall  have  the  gray.  Now  we  are  off." 

The  party  quickly  sprang  into  their  saddle  and 
started  down  the  road  at  a  rapid  trot,  followed  by 
the  hounds.  Archie  made  good  his  boast  that  he 
would  surprise  his  friends  before  he  had  gone  half 
a  mile.  He  was  perfectly  at  his  ease,  talking  and 
laughing  with  those  nearest  him,  while  the  fiery 
little  animal  on  which  he  was  mounted  pranced  and 
plunged,  reared  and  went  sideways,  and  he  never 
attempted  to  control  or  subdue  her.  He  rather  en- 


T2  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

joyed  her  antics.  Half  an  hour's  ride  brought  them 
to  the  place  of  meeting — a  little  open  glade  in  the 
outskirts  of  a  dense  canebrake — and  there  they 
found  Dick  Somers  and  several  settlers  waiting  for 
them.  They  were  lying  around  in  various  attitudes 
under  the  trees,  and  their  horses  were  hitched  close 
by.  They  were  all  dressed  for  the  woods,  and  in 
their  tattered  and  patched  hunting-suits  of  butternut 
and  blue  jeans,  presented  quite  a  contrast  to  our 
heroes  in  their  natty,  well -fitting  corduroys  and 
bright  top-boots.  They  all  arose  from  their  recum 
bent  positions  as  the  General  and  his  companions 
came  up,  and  Somers  hurried  forward  to  greet  the 
cousins.  "Ah!  here  you  are,"  he  exclaimed. 
"Come  along,  and  let  me  make  you  acquainted 
with  my  friends.  Colonel  Harrison,  allow  me  to 
present  Captain  Nelson.  Colonel  Harrison,  Mr. 
Winters." 

Who  the  rest  of  the  company  were  the  boys  could 
not  have  told,  for  they  went  through  the  ceremony  of 
introduction  in  a  state  of  bewilderment  and  surprise 
that  can  scarcely  be  described.  They  heard  Somers 
pronounce  several  names,  and  knew  that  they  shook 
hands  with  some  of  the  settlers  and  touched  their 
hats  to  others ;  and  that  was  all  they  did  know. 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  73 

Colonel  Harrison,  the  commander  of  the  redoubtable 
Louisiana  Wild  Cats  !  How  well  Frank  remembered 
the  time  when  he  had  trembled  and  turned  pale  at 
the  simple  mention  of  his  name  !  He  had  little 
dreamed  of  seeing  him  again,  and  how  the  unex 
pected  meeing  startled  him  ?  As  soon  as  the  oppor 
tunity  presented  itself  the  cousins  turned  to  look  at 
the  Colonel.  He  had  changed  considerably  since 
they  last  saw  him,  but  they  thought  they  would  have 
recognised  him  anywhere. 

"It  is  he,  as  sure  as  I  live,"  whispered  Archie. 
"  The  last  time  I  saw  him  he  carried  his  arm  in  a 
sling.  I  am  glad  he  has  got  well,  but  I'll  warrant 
that  he  can  show  the  mark  of  the  bullet  to  this  day. 
What  would  he  say  to  me  if  he  knew  it  was  I  who 
lifted  him  out  of  his  saddle,  on  a  certain  morning 
when  the  Wild  Cats  fired  into  our  boat  ?" 

"  And  what  would  he  say  if  he  knew  it  was  you 
who  set  fire  to  that  plantation-house  and  broke  up 
his  guerrilla  station?"  said  Frank. 

"I  hope  he  won't  mention  the  war.  I  intend  to 
keep  as  far  away  from  him  as  I  can." 

A  general  movement  among  the  settlers,  who  un 
hitched  their  horses,  sprang  into  their  saddles  and 
rode  off  in  different  directions  through  the  woods  in 


74  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

companies  of  twos  and  threes,  and  a  call  from  Somers, 
interrupted  their  conversation.  "Now  then,"  said 
he,  "  everything  is  arranged.  The  General  will 
take  charge  of  you,  and  place  you  where  you  will  be 
almost  certain  to  get  a  shot.  If  the  hounds  drive 
the  bear  to  you,  be  careful  that  you  don't  let  him  go 
by.  If  you  do  you  will  lose  your  reputations." 

"  We  haven't  earned  any  yet,"  said  Frank. 

"  Will  you  not  let  me  go  with  you  ?"  asked  Archie, 
who,  remembering  what  George  had  said  the  night 
before  about  Somers's  hard  riding,  thought  it  a  fine 
opportunity  to  try  his  own  mettle. 

"  Of  course  I  will,"  replied  Somers,  with  a  laugh  ; 
"  and  I  shall  be  very  glad  of  your  company  as  long 
as  you  can  keep  up  with  me.  But  as  I  am  going  in 
the  drive  and  this  is  new  business  to  you,  you  had 
better  let  the  General  station  you  on  a  runway. 
I  shall  have  to  ride  very  fast,  and  over  rough  ground 
too." 

"Is  my  horse  swift  enough  to  keep  up  with 
yours  ?" 

''  Yes.  She  can  beat  any  thing  in  the  parish 
running  and  jumping." 

"  That's  all  I  want  to  know ;  I  am  going  with 
you,"  said  Archie.  And  he  added  mentally,  "  Look 


AMONG    THE    TKAPPERrf.  75 

to  jour  laurels,  Dick  Somers.  Wouldn't  I  give 
something  if  I  had  King  James  or  Roderick  here  ?" 

The  few  settlers  who  remained,  arid  who  were 
gathered  about  the  General,  listened  with  no  little 
surprise  to  this  conversation  ;  arid  the  remarks  they 
made,  after  Archie  and  Somers  had  ridden  out  of 
hearing,  almost  made  Frank  believe  that  his  am 
bitious  cousin  had  undertaken  more  than  he  could 
accomplish. 

"  He's  made  of  the  right  stuff,  if  he  is  little,"  said 
one  ;  "  but  I'll  allow  that  he  don't  know  much  about 
bear-hunting.  He  would  have  had  a  heap  easier 
time  of  it  if  he  had  taken  a  station." 

"  Yes,  and  a  better  chance  for  a  shot,"  observed 
another. 

"  If  he  don't  mind  what  he  is  about  he'll  get  lost 
in  the  cane,"  said  a  third.  u  Dick  is  an  awful 
rider,  and  he  will  leave  him  clear  out  of  sight  before 
he  has  gone  three  hundred  yards." 

"  I  wish  I  had  given  him  another  horse  to  ride, 
for  I  am  afraid  Vixen  will  throw  him,"  said  the 
General,  in  a  tone  of  great  anxiety.  "I  have  half 
a  mind  to  call  him  back." 

Frank  said  nothing.     He  was  better  acquainted' 


76  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

with  his  cousin  than  anybody  else,  and  he  knew  that 
he  was  abundantly  able  to  take  care  of  himself. 

Archie  hoped  that  by  going  in  the  drive  with 
Soiners  he  would  escape  the  company  of  Colonel 
Harrison,  but  in  this  he  was  disappointed ;  for  be 
fore  he  was  fairly  out  of  the  glade  the  Colonel  gal 
loped  up  beside  him.  He  was  going  in  the  drive 
himself.  He  looked  curiously  at  Archie,  and  the 
latter  waited  with  no  little  uneasiness  for  him  to 
speak,  believing  from  the  expression  on  his  face  that 
he  would  have  something  unpleasant  to  say.  The 
incidents  that  happened  on  the  night  when  the 
guerrilla  station  was  broken  up  were  constantly  run 
ning  through  his  mind,  and  he  was  afraid  that  they 
would  be  brought  up  for  discussion.  But  he  was 
wide  of  the  mark.  The  Colonel  little  dreamed  that 
the  good-natured,  laughing  little  fellow  who  rode 
beside  him,  had  had  anything  to  do  with  an  under 
taking  so  desperate,  much  less  that  he  was  one  of 
the  principal  actors  in  it.  He  was  admiring  Archie's 
horsemanship,  and  at  the  same  time  wondering  that 
a  boy  like  him,  who  had  never  run  with  the  hounds, 
should  have  the  impudence  to  follow  such  riders  as 
himself  and  Dick  Somers.  But  the  Colonel  did  not 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.'  77 

know  that  Archie,  in  his  time,  had  faced  things 
much  more  to  be  dreaded  than  fallen  logs,  brush- 
heaps  and  rail-fences  ;  and,  more  than  that,  he  was 
entirely  unacquainted  with  the  motives  with  which 
the  boy  had  undertaken  the  hunt. 


78  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  BEAR-HUNT. 

/COLONEL,"  said  Archie,  when  he  and  his  com 
panions  had  ridden  through  a  narrow  strip  of 
woodland,  and  out  into  an  open  field ;  "  I  see  that 
you  have  a  hunting-horn  with  you,  and  that  Mr. 
Somers  has,  too.  What  do  you  use  them  for?" 

"  To  call  the  dogs,"  was  the  reply. 

"Why  don't  you  whistle  to  them,  or  call  them  by 
name  ?" 

"  Because  they  sometimes  get  so  far  away  that 
we  can't  make  them  hear  us." 

"Where  are  the  dogs  now?"  inquired  Archie, 
running  his  eyes  over  the  field  in  all  directions. 
"  I  don't  see  a  single  one." 

"  0,  they're  roaming  about  in  the  woods  some 
where,"  said  Somers;  u  but  we'll  soon  make  them 
show  themselves." 

As  he  said  this,  he  raised  one  of  his  horns  to  his 
lips  and  blew  a  long,  loud  blast.  Scarcely  had  the 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  79 

sound  ceased,  when  from  the  woods  behind  them 
arose  a  chorus  of  whines  and  bays  and  growls  that 
would  have  done  credit  to  a  small  menagerie,  and  a 
dozen  hounds  appeared  and  came  toward  them  at 
full  speed.  A  blast  from  the  other  horn  he  carried 
was  answered  by  another  chorus,  and  brought  into 
view  as  many  more  hounds.  After  that  the  Colonel 
blew  his,  and  another  body  of  dogs  appeared ;  and 
then  there  were  forty  fine  sleek  animals  bounding 
along  in  front  of  the  horses,  all  snuffing  the  air,  and 
whining  and  baying  together. 

"  You  don't  quite  understand  that,  do  you?"  said 
the  Colonel,  noticing  the  look  of  surprise  on  Archie's 
face. 

"  No,  sir,  I  do  not.  I  don't  see  why  all  the  dogs 
didn't  come  when  the  first  horn  was  blown." 

"The  reason  is  because  they  belong  to  different 
men.  You  see  there  are  three  packs  of  hounds  here 
— the  General's,  Somers's  and  mine ;  and  every  one 
of  them  is  so  well  trained,  that  he  can  recognise  the 
sound  of  his  master's  horn  as  far  as  he  can  hear  it, 
and  will  come  to  it ;  but  he  will  pay  attention  to  no 
other.  Men  who  own  hounds  usually  go  in  the 
drive  themselves ;  but  as  the  General  is  getting  a 
little  too  far  along  in  years  for  reckless  riding,  he 


80  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

lets  Somers  manage  his  pack.  Now,  all  these  dogs, 
as  I  told  you,  will  obey  the  sound  of  their  master's 
horn  as  far  as  they  can  hear  it,  no  matter  what 
they  are  doing.  If  they  are  eating,  or  following 
a  bear  or  deer,  you  can  call  them  to  you.  When 
they  are  searching  for  a  trail,  they  sometimes  scatter 
out  over  a  wide  space  of  country.  When  one  strikes 
the  scent,  we  know  it  at  once  by  the  peculiar  kind 
of  bay  he  utters,  and  a  blast  on  these  horns  will 
bring  the  rest  of  the  dogs  up  so  that  they  can  all 
get  off  on  the  trial  together.  Do  you  understand?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  And  what  is  the  duty  of  those  who 
go  in  the  drive?" 

"  They  generally  try  to  keep  as  close  to  the 
hounds  as  possible.  Sometimes  the  trail  is  lost,  and 
the  dogs  scatter  out  to  find  it.  When  one  strikes 
the  scent  again  he  tells  us  of  it,  and  we  bring  them 
all  up  together  and  give  them  a  fresh  start.  Then, 
if  a  bear  runs  a  course  different  from  that  which 
we  think  he  will  follow,  or  if  he  takes  to  a  tree,  a 
blow  at  a  horn  will  give  our  friends  notice  of  the 
fact." 

"  Where  do  you  expect  to  find  a  bear  this  morn- 
ing?" 

"  We  may  strike  a  trail  anywhere  along  here  for 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  81 

the  next  mile,"  replied  Somers.  "The  varmints 
pass  through  this  field  every  night  or  two.  If  we 
don't  find  here,  we  certainly  will  at  my  fodder- 
stacks.  The  bears  come  there  regularly  to  steal 
my  corn.  Let's  go  slower  and  give  the  dogs  a 
chance.  We'll  have  enough  fast  riding  directly. 
Whoop-la,  boys  !  Hunt  him  up  !" 

Another  chorus  of  deep-toned  bays  answered  the 
order,  and  the  hounds  separating,  ran  in  all  direc 
tions.  In  less  than  five  minutes  half  of  them  were 
out  of  sight  in  the  woods,  and  the  rest  were  scattered 
all  over  the  field.  Archie  now  saw  where  the  hunt 
ing-horns  would  come  into  play  if  a  trail  was  found. 
The  pack  were  spread  out  over  a  tract  of  country 
at  least  a  mile  in  width.  The  dog  on  the  extreme 
right  was  out  of  hearing  of  the  dog  on  the  extreme 
left,  and  both  were  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
masters'  voices.  Consequently,  if  one  struck  a 
scent,  the  only  way  of  conveying  the  inte'ligence 
to  the  others  was  by  means  of  the  hunting-horns. 

For  half  an  hour  the  hounds  worked  faithfully, 
and  for  the  same  length  of  time  the  three  com 
panions  rode  along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  chatting 
pleasantly  on  various  topics  connected  with  riding 
and  hunting-  Archie  listened  attentively  to  what 


82  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

his  friends  had  to  say,  and  they,  believing  him  to 
be  entirely  inexperienced,  gave  him  all  the  infor 
mation  in  their  power.  More  than  once,  while  they 
were  relating  stories  of  their  hunting  expeditions, 
was  Archie  on  the  point  of  telling  them  that  he  had 
seen  bears  and  shot  at  them  long  before  he  had  ever 
heard  of  the  canebrakes  of  Louisiana  ;  but  he  was 
afraid  that  if  he  did,  his  companions  would  expect 
more  of  him  than  he  could  accomplish.  So  he  held 
his  peace,  preferring  to  let  his  merits  as  a  hunter 
and  rider  be  judged  by  his  actions  rather  than  his 
words. 

u  There's  where  I  live,"  said  Somers,  at  length, 
directing  Archie's  attention  to  a  plantation-house 
that  stood  about  half  a  mile  to  the  right.  "  I  shall 
expect  you  and  Frank  and  George  to  take  dinner 
with  me  to-morrow.  Hallo  !  Did  you  hear  that?" 

Archie  had  heard  it.  It  was  a  long,  mournful 
howl,  which  seemed  to  come  from  among  the  negro 
quarters  close  in  front  of  them. 

"  That's  a  find,"  said  the  Colonel. 

"  A  find?"  repeated  Archie. 

"  Yes.  That's  Bose,  and  he  has  struck  a  trail. 
He's  at  the  fodder-stacks.  I  knew  we'd  find  there." 

Archie   was  all  excitement    now.     He    expected 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  83 

that  his  companions  would  at  once  set  off  at  the 
top  of  their  speed,  and  knowing  that  in  a  race  a 
good  deal  sometimes  depends  on  getting  a  good  start, 
he  pulled  his  hat  lower  over  his  forehead  and  tight 
ened  his  grasp  on  the  reins,  fully  determined  that 
he  would  not  be  beaten  without  a  desperate  struggle. 
Bat  to  his  surprise,  his  friends  took  the  matter  very 
coolly.  They  both  stopped  their  horses,  and  dis 
mounting,  began  to  tighten  their  saddle-girths ; 
after  which  the  Colonel  shortened  the  strap  with 
which  his  heavy  double-barrel  was  slung  over  his 
shoulder,  and  Somers  kneeled  down  to  fix  his  spur. 
Knowing  by  these  signs  that  the  tug  of  war  was  not 
far  distant,  Archie  thought  it  best  to  follow  the 
example  thus  set  him.  He  pulled  his  saddle-cloth 
a  little  farther  forward,  adjusted  the  saddle  anew 
and  buckled  it  tightly,  looked  to  his  bridle  and 
curb,  and  having  taken  every  possible  precaution 
against  accident  during  the*  wild  ride  that  was  to 
follow,  mounted  again  and  accompanied  his  friends 
toward  the  negro  quarters.  Presently  they  came 
within  sight  of  the  fodder-stacks  of  which  Somers 
had  spoken,  and  there  they  saw  a  large  tan-colored 
hound  running  swiftly  back  and  forth,  stopping  now 


84  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

and  then  to  raise  his  head  and  utter  a  dismal  howl. 
There  was  not  another  dog  in  sight. 

"  Listen  to  Bose  !"  shouted  Somers,  encouragingly. 
"  It's  a  find,  sure  enough,  for  that  hound  never 
makes  a  mistake.  Isn't  he  a  splendid  animal,  Archie  ? 
He  belongs  to  the  General,  who  wouldn't  take  five 
hundred  dollars  for  him." 

"  What  makes  him  so  valuable  ?" 

"  Why,  he  saved  his  master's  life  by  pulling  down 
a  wounded  bear  that  was  just  on  the  point  of  seizing 
him." 

A  loud  blast  from  the  Colonel's  hunting-horn  in 
terrupted  the  conversation.  The  result  was  be 
wildering  to  Archie,  for  before  the  echoes  had  fairly 
died  away,  a  dozen  hounds  made  their  appearance 
as  suddenly  as  if  they  had  popped  up  out  of  the 
ground.  Somers  sounded  his  horns,  one  after  the 
other,  and  in  less  than  five  minutes  all  the  mem 
bers  of  the  different  packs  were  running  about  the 
fodder-stacks  in  a  state  of  great  excitement.  Now 
and  then  a  deep-toned  bay  from  some  well-known 
and  reliable  favorite  would  ring  out  on  the  air,  and 
Somers,  who  seemed  to  know  every  one  of  them  by 
name,  would  shout  out  some  such  expressions  as 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  85 

these,  which,  as  he  afterward  explained  to  Archie, 
were  intended  to  encourage  the  hounds  : 

"Hark  to  Carlo!  Hear  Bogus!  There  goes 
Prince  !  Sing  out  again,  Hector  !  Listen  to  all 
of  them  !"  he  yelled  at  last,  when  the  whole  pack 
broke  out  into  a  deafening  clamor.  "  Now,  my 
boy,"  he  added,  extending  one  hand  to  Archie, 
while  with  the  other  he  vainly  endeavored  to  control 
his  impatient  horse,  "  Good-bye." 

"Why  good-bye?"  inquired  Archie,  holding  a 
tight  rein  on  the  skittish  little  Vixen,  who  showed  a 
disposition  to  stand  first  on  her  head  and  then  on 
her  hind  feet.  "  Where  are  you  going  ?" 

"  The  hunt  begins  now,  and  I  am  going  to  leave 
you  out  of  sight  in  less  than  five  minutes." 

"  0,  is  that  it?  Well,  good-bye;  but  be  careful 
you  are  not  the  one  left  out  of  sight." 

"Whoop-la!  whoop-la  !"  shouted  Somers,  as  he 
lifted  his  hat  from  his  head  and  swung  it  wildly  in 
the  air.  "  Hie  on,  boys  !  Hunt  him  up." 

Before  the  words  had  fairly  left  his  lips  the  hunt 
and  the  race  began. 

The  fodder-stacks,  where  the  trail  was  found,  were 
situated  in  one  corner  of  a  field  which  was  perhaps 
a  mile  and  a  quarter  wide ;  and  this  was  a  point 


86  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

upon  which  Archie  congratulated  himself,  for  itgave 
him  an  opportunity  to  see  something  he  had  never 
witnessed  before — a  pack  of  well-trained  hounds 
going  at  full  speed.  It  was  a  sight  worth  seeing. 
The  dogs,  led  by  the  infallible  Bose,  who  was  as 
fleet  as  the  wind  as  well  as  courageous,  ran  so  closely 
together  that  it  seemed  as  if  one  could  not  have 
placed  a  ramrod  between  any  two  of  them,  their 
black,  glossy  coats  glistening  like  satin  in  the  rays 
of  the  sun,  and  the  echoes  awakened  by  their  bugle- 
like  notes  sounding  far  and  near.  They  acted  as 
if  they  were  almost  beside  themselves  with  excite 
ment,  and  so  did  the  horses  and  men  who  were  fol 
lowing  them.  The  gallant  nags,  without  a  touch  from 
the  spurs  or  a  word  of  encouragement,  ran  at  the  top 
of  their  speed,  while  their  riders  swung  their  slouch 
hats  in  the  air,  and  yelled  like  so  many  boys  just 
turned  loose  from  school.  And  Archie  was  ahead. 

u  Be  careful  what  you  are  about  now,"  shouted 
Somers.  "  There's  a  bad  fence  just  before  us,  with 
a  bayou  on  the  other  side.  The  hounds  are  running 
that  way  too.  I  declare,  Colonel,  that  boy  is  going 
to  break  his  neck.  Hold  up,  Archie." 

But  Archie  was  past  holding  up  for  anybody  or 
anything.  He  had  set  out  in  the  morning  to  follow 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  87 

Souiers,  and  now  Somers  was  following  him  ;  and  he 
was  resolved  that  he  should  keep  on  following  him  as 
long  as  the  chase  continued.  But  he  heard  the  words 
of  caution,  and  prepared  himself  bj  placing  his  hat 
firmly  on  his  head,  settling  into  a  firm  seat  in  the 
saddle,  and  taking  a  rein  in  each  hand  with  one 
finger  on  the  curb,  so  that  if  necessary  it  could  be 
brought  into  instant  use.  He  saw  the  hounds 
scramble  over  the  fence,  and  he  remarked  that  when 
they  came  into  view  again  every  one  of  them  was 
dripping  wet.  He  saw,  too,  that  there  was  a  beech- 
tree  with  very  low,  drooping  branches  standing  close 
beside  the  fence ;  but  the  fence  was  lower  there  than 
anywhere  else,  and  toward  that  point  he  directed  his 
course  without  once  slackening  his  speed.  He  heard 
exclamations  of  surprise  and  alarm  behind  him, 
followed  by  earnest  entreaties  to  "  hold  up,"  and 
then  he  felt  himself  sailing  through  the  air  like  a 
bird  on  the  wing,  heard  the  branches  of  the  tree 
crashing  about  his  ears,  felt  two  or  three  stinging 
blows  in  his  face,  and  in  another  second  was  on  solid 
ground  once  more  and  going  ahead  as  fast  as  ever. 
Vixen  had  taken  both  fence  and  bayou  in  a  flying  leap 
and  got  over  in  safety,  but  at  some  cost  to  her  rider. 
His  hat  was  gone,  there  was  a  wide  gash  in  his 


88  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

cheek,  and  his  unlucky  chin  had  come  in  for  two  or 
three  deep  scratches.  "  But  I  don't  care  for  them," 
thought  Archie.  "  I'll  be  the  first  to  see  that  bear, 
or  I'll  have  worse  wounds  than  these  by  the  time 
the  hunt  is  ended.  That's  rather  a  better  jump  than 
I  made  in  the  ravine  on  the  morning  that  grizzly 
was  after  us.  Now,  Mr.  Somers,  let's  see  you  do 
it." 

Archie  swept  his  eyes  rapidly  over  the  ground  in 
front  of  him,  and  seeing  that  the  way  was  clear  for 
the  next  few  rods,  he  faced  about  in  his  saddle  to 
watch  the  movements  of  his  companions.  They  gave 
the  beech-tree  a  wide  berth,  and  although  the  fence 
was  higher  the  bayou  was  narrower,  and  they  got 
across  without  a  scratch.  But  they  were  still  be 
hind,  and,  what  was  more,  were  losing  ground  every 
moment ;  for  Vixen  now  began  to  warm  to  her 
work,  and  made  headway  at  a  rate  that  would  have 
done  credit  to  Roderk1:  himself. 

Archie  had  not  the  faintest  idea  how  long  that 
wild  ride  continued.  At  the  moment  he  crossed  the 
fence  the  dogs  disappeared  among  the  trees  in  front 
of  him,  and  from  that  point  the  chase  led  through 
woods  and  canebrakes,  over  ground  strewn  with  logs 
and  briers,  across  low  bottom  lands  covered  with 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  89 

water  and  thickly  studded  with  cypress  knees,  arid 
his  attention  was  so  fully  occupied  in  guiding  his 
horse  and  listening  to  the  baying  of  the  hounds,  that 
he  took  no  note  of  time.  At  length  he  noticed 
that  the  music  of  the  pack,  which  during  the  last 
few  minutes  had  been  growing  fainter  and  fainter 
until  it  was  almost  inaudible,  began  to  ring  out 
louder  and  clearer.  When  he  had  ridden  a  short 
distance  farther  he  told  himself  that  if  they  had  not 
already  treed  the  bear,  they  were  close  upon  him, 
for  they  no  longer  uttered  the  long-drawn  bays  with 
which  they  awoke  the  echoes  at  starting,  but  barked 
fierce  and  sharp ;  and  more  than  that,  the  noise 
seemed  to  come  from  one  particular  point  in  the 
swamp,  as  if  the  hounds  had  suddenly  become  sta 
tionary.  Archie  faced  about  in  his  saddle  and 
looked  behind  him.  His  friends  were  not  in  sight. 

"  I'm  the  fellow  who  is  going  to  bear  off  the 
honors  !"  thought  he,  with  great  satisfaction.  "  I 
shall  find  and  shoot  that  bear  before  the  others  come 
up,  for  the  hounds  have  got  him  sure." 

The  farther  Archie  rode,  the  more  thoroughly  was 
he  convinced  of  this  fact ;  and  when  at  last  he  came 
suddenly  out  of  a  dense  canebrake,  through  which 
his  horse  had  with  difficulty  worked  her  way,  and 


90  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

found  the  game  fairly  before  him,  his  joy  knew  no 
bounds.  The  bear  was  perched  in  the  top  of  a  huge 
poplar,  moving  his  head  slowly  from  side  to  side, 
and  glaring  down  at  the  dogs  which  were  seated  in 
a  circle  about  the  foot  of  the  tree  glaring  back  at 
him.  When  Archie  came  into  view  they  ceased 
their  baying,  and  looked  first  at  him  and  then  at  the 
bear,  as  if  they  knew  they  had  done  all  they  could, 
and  that  he  must  finish  the  business. 

"Now,  my  fine  fellow,  this  little  difficulty  will 
soon  be  settled,"  said  the  young  hunter,  as  he 
swung  himself  from  the  saddle.  "If  you  have  any 
messages  to  send  to  your  friends,  you'd  best  be 
making  them  known." 

Remembering  that  the  General  had  told  him  in 
the  morning  that  the  mare  would  not  stand  fire, 
Archie's  first  care  was  to  tie  her  securely  to  a  sap 
ling  close  at  hand.  Then  he  unslung  his  Maynard, 
slipped  a  cartridge  into  the  barrel,  and  began  walk 
ing  around  the  tree  to  get  a  fair  chance  at  the  bear's 
head.  Having  found  a  favorable  position,  he  raised 
his  gun,  and  for  the  first  time  discovered  that  one 
who  had  been  under  the  most  intense  excitement  for 
a  full  hour  and  a  half,  and  whose  pulse  was  beating 
at  a  hundred  and  ten,  was  not  in  just  the  right  trim 


ARCHY  TREES  THE  BEAU. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  91 

to  meddle  uith  so  dangerous  an  antagonist  as  a  full- 
grown  bear.  His  hand  trembled,  his  gun  waved 
about  in  the  most  unsteady  manner,  and  he  could 
not  cover  the  bear's  head.  He  must  make  sure 
work  of  him,  for  to  bring  him  down  wounded,  would 
be  to  insure  the  destruction  of  half  the  dogs  in  the 
pack  ;  and  what  if  Bose,  the  one  the  General  valued 
so  highly,  should  be  among  the  number  ?  He  would 
not  run  the  risk. 

"I  must  have  a  little  rest  first,"  said  Archie, 
throwing  himself  at  full  length  under  the  tree.  "  And 
this  is  a  queer  way  to  quiet  one's  nerves  too,"  he 
added,  after  a  moment's  reflection — "lying  here  on 
the  ground  with  a  bear  hanging  over  me,  and  forty 
impatient,  yelping  dogs  around!' 

But  it  was  the  only  method  to  which  Archie  could 
resort,  and  it  had  the  desired  effect  too.  At  the  end 
of  five  minutes  he  arose  from  the  ground,  and  plac-. 
ing  a  cartridge  in  his  left  hand,  so  that  he  could 
have  it  ready  for  instant  use  in  case  the  first  shot 
should  not  prove  fatal,  he  once  more  raised  his  rifle 
to  his  shoulder,  and  covered  one  of  the  bear's  eyes 
with  the  sight.  This  time  his  hand  was  as  steady 
as  a  rock.  The  bullet  went  straight  to  the  mark, 
and  with  a  quiver  and  a  shake  the  huge  animal  left 


92  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

his  perch  and  tumbled  down  among  the  dogs,  which 
sprang  upon  him  in  a  body  the  moment  he  touched 
the  ground.  But  there  was  no  resistance  to  their 
fierce  attack.  The  bear  was  limp  and  motionless, 
and  the  dogs,  after  giving  him  a  bite  or  two  apiece, 
drew  off  and  lay  down  in  a  circle  around  him  to  rest 
after  their  long  run — all  except  Bose,  who  came 
toward  Archie,  wagging  his  tail  familiarly,  and 
looking  up  at  him  as  if  expecting  a  word  of  praise. 

"  There,"  said  the  young  hunter,  after  he  had  ex 
amined  the  game  to  his  satisfaction  ;  "  I've  done 
what  I  intended  to  do  when  I  left  the  house  this 
morning,  and  now  I  am  not  afraid  to  meet  somebody 
at  the  General's  table,  even  if  my  chin  is  all  burned 
with  kreosote.  My  face  must  be  pretty  well  bat 
tered  up — it  feels  as  if  it  was — but  I  don't  care  for 
that.  I  came  by  these  wounds  honestly." 

"Who — whoop  !"  shouted  a  voice  away  off  in  the 
woods. 

«  Who— -whoop  !"  yelled  Archie  in  reply.  "  This 
way,  Mr.  Somers  !" 

The  approaching  horsemen,  for  there  appeared  to 
be  two  of  them,  continued  to  call  out  at  intervals, 
and  Archie  as  often  answered  their  calls  in  order 
to  guide  them  to  the  place  where  he  was  standing. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  93 

In  a  few  minutes  he  heard  a  crashing  in  the  cane, 
and  presently  Colonel  Harrison  and  Somers  dashed 
into  view,  pulling  up  their  horses  in  amazement  when 
they  saw  the  bear  lying  dead  at  the  foot  of  the  tree, 
and  Archie  with  tattered  garments  and  bloody  face, 
standing  over  him  leaning  on  his  rifle. 

"  I  say,  my  boy,  you've  done  it,  haven't  you  ?" 
exclaimed  Somers,  springing  from  his  saddle  and 
seizing  the  young  hunter  by  the  hand.  "It  is  a 
fair,  square  and  honest  beat,  and  I  acknowledge  it. 
But  look  here,  are  you  hurt  ?  Where's  your  hat  ?" 

"  I  am  not  hurt,  beyond  a  few  scratches,  and  my 
hat  is  back  there  in  the  bayou  where  we  crossed  the 
fence." 

"  Your  first  bear  too,  and  shot  plump  in  the  eye." 
said  the  Colonel,  after  he  had  taken  a  look  at  the 
game. 

"  0  no,"  replied  Archie.  "  I've  shot  bears  before 
to-day." 

"Where?"  asked  both  his  companions,  in  sur 
prise. 

"  In  California.  Not  black  bears  either,  but 
grizzlies." 

"Well,  now,  I  thought  you  didn't  ride  like  an 
inexperienced  hand,"  said  the  Colonel.  "  Wait 


94  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

until  I  call  up  the  others,  and   then  sit  down  here 
and  tell  us  all  about  it." 

The  music  of  a  hunting-horn,  which  just  then 
echoed  through  the  swamp,  followed  by  two  or  three 
more  blasts,  all  coming  from  different  directions, 
indicated  that  some  of  the  party  had  heard  the  bay 
ing  of  the  hounds  and  the  report  of  Archie's  rifle, 
and  were  hurrying  up  to  the  scene  of  the  conflict. 
The  Colonel  sounded  his  horn,  to  direct  their  course, 
and  then  seating  himself  on  the  ground  beside 
Archie,  informed  him  that  he  was  ready  to  listen  to 
a  bear  story.  The  boy  accordingly,  very  briefly 
related  the  particulars  of  the  chase  after  "  Old 
Davy,"  the  famous  grizzly,  which  had  so  long  been 
a  terror  to  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Uncle 
James's  rancho.  When  he  described  their  desperate 
flight  through  the  woods,  with  the  grizzly  close  at 
their  heels,  and  told  of  the  accident  that  befell  him 
at  the  tree  which  had  fallen  across  the  ravine — 
how  his  horse  in  attempting  to  leap  over  the  obstruc-. 
tion,  struck  his  feet  against  it  and  dashed  him  sense 
less  to  the  ground — his  auditors  became  greatly  in 
terested  and  excited.  When  he  told  of  the  gallant 
manner  in  which  Frank  had  awaited  the  onslaught 
of  the  enraged  animal  and  accomplished  his  de- 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS. 


struction,  they  were  amazed  as  well  as  interested  ; 
and  Archie  knew  by  the  comments  that  were  made 
when  his  story  was  ended,  that  his  cousin  had  risen 
considerably  in  the  estimation  of  his  auditors. 


96  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ALL    TOGETHER. 

UIDED  by  the  sound  of  the  Colonel's  horn, 
which  was  blown  at  intervals,  the  hunters  came 
up  one  by  one,  and  each  had  something  to  say  about 
the  unexpected  result  of  the  chase.  The  simple 
killing  of  the  bear  was  no  great  exploit  in  their 
eyes — any  one  who  could  shoot  a  rifle  at  all,  could 
stand  under  a  tree  and  bring  an  animal  the  size  of 
a  yearling  out  of  it — but  riding  a  horse  that  had 
thrown  four  of  the  General's  negroes  as  fast  as  they 
could  mount  her,  and  beating  Dick  Somers  in  a 
fair  race  through  the  woods,  was  a  different  matter 
altogether,  and  one  well  calculated  to  excite  remark. 
When  the  hunters  had  all  come  in,  and  the  work 
of  skinning  and  cutting  up  the  bear  was  completed, 
the  party  mounted  and  rode  homeward.  On  account 
of  his  dilapidated  garments  and  battered  face, 
Archie  declined  a  very  pressing  invitation  to  dine 
with  his  vanquished  rival,  being  anxious  to  reach 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  97 

home  with  the  least  possible  delay,  and  make  some 
improvements  in  his  appearance.  He  was  proud  of 
his  victory,  and  during  the  next  few  days  had  op 
portunity  given  him  to  learn  that  it  was  the  talk  of 
the  settlement.  By  some  process  of  reasoning,  he 
reached  the  happy  conclusion  that,  by  what  he  had 
done,  he  had  made  ample  amends  for  the  act  of  de 
ception  of  which  he  had  been  guilty.  We  do  not 
pretend  to  understand  the  arguments  he  used  to 
convince  himself  of  this  fact,  but  he  understood 
them  perfectly,  and  was  in  the  best  of  spirits.  He 
was  pretty  well  bruised  and  scratched,  but  he  re 
covered  from  that  in  due  time — the  marks  of  the 
kreosote  wore  off,  and  Archie  was  himself  again. 

Nothing  else  that  is  worthy  of  note  transpired 
while  the  boys  remained  at  the  General's.  In 
riding,  visiting  and  following  the  hounds,  they 
passed  every  one  of  their  waking  hours.  The  time 
of  their  stay  was  short,  and  those  in  the  settlement 
with  whom  they  were  acquainted,  especially  Somers 
and  Colonel  Harrison,  strove  by  every  means  in 
their  power  to  render  their  sojourn  as  pleasant  as 
possible.  On  the  evening  of  the  day  of  the  bear- 
hunt,  George  had  held  another  long  conversation 
with  the  cousins,  and.  after  compelling  them  to 


98  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

promise  over  and  over  again,  that  when  the  visit  to 
the  Sportsman's  Club  was  ended,  they  would  return 
with  him  and  spend  at  least  a  week  at  his  house, 
before  their  departure  for  the  North,  he  wrote  to 
Eugene,  accepting  his  invitation  for  the  holidays, 
and  telling  him  when  to  look  for  his  arrival.  On 
the  following  Monday,  the  boys  packed  their  trunks 
and  stepped  on  hoard  a  steamer  bound  for  New  Or 
leans.  One  of  them  seemed  to  regret  very  much  that 
the  parting  time  had  come,  and  that  was  Archie, 
who,  as  long  as  the  boat  was  in  sight  of  the  plan 
tation-house,  remained  on  the  hurricane-deck  ex 
changing  handkerchief  signals  with  some  one  who 
stood  on  the  porch.  He  was  very  sober  and  thought 
ful  after  that,  and  not  until  the  steamer  landed  at 
the  levee  in  front  of  New  Orleans  did  he  recover 
his  usual  spirits. 

George  conducted  his  companions  to  a  hotel  which 
was  a  sort  of  headquarters  for  all  the  stage-coaches 
that  ran  out  of  the  city,  and  after  an  excellent 
supper,  they  stepped  into  the  rickety  four-horse 
vehicle  that  was  to  take  them  to  the  hospitable  Gay- 
lord  mansion.  It  rained  in  torrents  all  night;  the 
roads  were  in  a  horrible  condition,  and  the  passen 
gers  were  bumped  and  jolted  about  at  such  a  rate 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  99 

that  all  efforts  to  obtain  a  wink  of  sleep  were  use 
less.  But  the  morning  broke  bright  and  clear,  and 
just  as  the  sun  was  rising,  the  stage  suddenly  left 
the  muddy  road,  and  after  a  short  and  rapid  drive 
over  a  gravelled  carriage-way,  drew  up  before  Mr. 
Gay  lord's  porch.  Scarcely  had  the  vehicle  come  to 
a  stand-still  when  the  door  was  jerked  open,  and 
Walter  Gaylord's  head  thrust  in. 

"  Why,  George !"  he  exclaimed,  seizing  his  friend's 
hand  and  almost  dragging  him  to  the  ground  ;  "  what 
did  you  mean  by  telling  us  that  you  couldn't  come  ? 
We  are  all  up  in  arms  against  you.  Ah  !  Mr.  Nel 
son,  I  am — Well,  what  shall  I  call  him  then  ? 
Frank  !  Glad  to  see  you,  Frank.  Archie,  I  am 
happy  to  make  your  acquaintance.  George  has 
spoken  of  you  so  often  in  his  letters  to  us,  that 
none  of  our  fellows  look  upon  you  as  strangers. 
Come  in.  We  were  expecting  you  this  morning." 

Walter  led  the  way  through  the  hall,  and  up  the 
wide  stairs  to  the  room  that  had  been  prepared  for 
them,  and  after  giving  the  three  friends  to  under 
stand  that  they  would  be  quartered  together,  and 
asking  them  to  come  to  his  room  as  soon  as  conve 
nient,  he  :shut  the  door  and  left  them  to  themselves. 

Daring  the  next  few  minutes,  Frank  and  Archie 


100  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

gained  some  idea  of  the  estimation  in  which  their 
friend  George  was  held  by  the  people  among  whom 
they  now  found  themselves.  No  sooner  had  Walter 
entered  his  room,  and  conveyed  to  the  boys  there 
assembled  the  information  that  the  expected  guests 
had  arrived,  than  a  great  hubbub  arose.  When  it 
had  subsided  in  some  measure,  a  voice  in  the  hall 
cried  out : 

"  George,  we  can't  go  much  longer  without  seeing 
you.  Hurry  up,  or  "we'll  be  into  that  room  after 

you." 

"That's  Eugene,  Walter's  brother,"  said  George. 
"  He  will  be  good  company  for  Archie  ;  but,  on  the 
whole,  I  would  advise  Mrs.  Gaylord  to  keep  them 
apart,  or  there  will  be  no  living  in  the  house  with 
them." 

"  I  say,  George  !"  exclaimed  somebody  else,  in 
shrill,  piping  tones  ;  "  please  bear  in  mind  that  we 
boys  haven't  had  any  breakfast  yet.  We've  been 
waiting  for  you,  and  we  are  as  hungry  as  bears  !" 

"  That's  Fred  Craven — Featherweight,  he  is  gen 
erally  called,"  said  George;  "another  good  com 
panion  for  Archie." 

u  On  deck,  there  !"  shouted  a  stentorian  voice. 
"What's  the  matter?" 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  101 

"  That's  Uncle  Dick,"  said  George. 

"They've  come,"  replied  three  or  four  voices  in 
concert. 

u  George,"  shouted  the  old  sailor,  "  get  through 
with  those  youngsters  below  there  as  quickly  as  you 
can,  and  come  into  the  cabin.  Do  you  hear  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  George. 

"  The  cabin  !"  repeated  Frank.     "  What's  that  ?" 

"  The  queerest  place  you  were  ever  in,  as  you 
will  say  when  you  have  seen  it." 

When  the  boys  had  made  a  hasty  toilet,  George, 
who  was  as  much  at  home  here  as  he  was  in  his  own 
father's  house,  led  the  cousins  along  the  hall  to  a 
door  at  the  farther  end,  which  he  opened  without 
ceremony.  The  apartment  into  which  it  led  reminded 
Frank  and  Archie  of  their  room  at  home;  the 
stuffed  birds  and  the  revolutionary  relics  were  the 
only  things  lacking.  It  was  filled  with  boys— there 
were  probably  a  dozen  or  fifteen  of  them  in  all— who 
arose  as  the  door  opened,  and  with  a  general  shout 
of  welcome  crowded  about  George,  all  eager  to  shake 
him  by  the  hand.  Walter  at  once  came  up,  and 
drawing  Frank's  arm  and  Archie's  through  his  own, 
proceeded  to  perform  the  ceremony  of  introduction. 
The  last  one  to  whom  Archie  was  presented  was 


102  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Featherweight.  The  two  little  fellows  looked  into 
each  other's  eyes  for  a  moment,  and  then  Fred  took 
Archie  by  the  arm  and  led  him  away. 

"  You  and  I  are  going  to  be  fast  friends  I  know," 
said  he.  "  We'll  leave  those  giants,"  he  added, 
nodding  his  head  toward  the  corner  where  Frank, 
Walter,  Bab  and  Perk  stood  engaged  in  conversation, 
"  to  take  care  of  themselves;  and  sit  down  here — I 
want  to  talk  to  you." 

"  I  say,"  whispered  Leonard  Wilson,  who  had  but 
ton-holed  George  and  pulled  him  into  another  corner  ; 
"I  think  that  Frank  Nelson  is  the  right  sort." 

"  And  the  longer  you  know  him  the  more  firmly 
you  will  be  convinced  of  that  fact,"  replied  George. 

"  Can  he  pull  an  oar?" 

u  Yes,  indeed.  He  has  handled  an  oar  ever  since 
he  was  large  enough  to  lift  one  ;  and  his  cousin  too. 
I  believe  Bab  is  the  champion  sculler,  isn't  he?  I'd 
like  to  see  him  and  Frank  pull  a  race." 

"Well,  the  thing  can  be  easily  brought  about  if 
your  friend  will  consent.  Anything  for  fun,  you 
know,  and  I  tell  you  we  are  bound  to  see  plenty  of 
it  durin^  the  next  week.  That's  what  Walter  and 

o 

Eugene  invited  us  here  for,  and  Mrs.  Gaylord  lets 
us  make  as  much  noise  as  we  please.     Isn't  she 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  103 


splendid  ?  But  what  I  was  going  to  say  is  this  : 
You  knew  that  Mr.  Bell  was  a  smuggler,  didn't 
you  ?" 

"  Yes.  Walter  told  me  something  about  it  in  one 
of  his  letters.  You  must  have  had  rather  a  rough 
time  crossing  the  Gulf,  by  all  accounts." 

"Ah!  didn't  we  though!  You're  right.  The 
deserters,  the  storm,  the  smugglers,  and  the  Span 
iards  and  Cubans,  all  combined,  made  things  lively 
for  us,  I  tell  you.  If  I  had  to  go  through  with  it 
all  again,  I  would  rather  be  with  somebody  besides 
Walter  Gay  lord." 

"  Why  what's  the  matter  with  him?  I  thought 
he  was  a  good  fellow  and  a  capital  sailor." 

"  So  he  is.  No  one  knows  that  better  than  I  do; 
but  he  is  just  a  trifle  too  persevering.  If  he  once 
makes  up  his  mind  to  a  thing  he's  going  ahead  with 
it,  no  matter  how  many  obstacles  he  may  find  in  his 
way.  I  was  going  to  say  that  Mr.  Bell's  property 
has  been  confiscated  and  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the 
government,  and  at  the  auction  my  father  bought 
Bayard's  four-oared  shell,  the  Emma,  and  gave 
her  to  me  for  a  Christmas  present.  She's  down  in 
Walter's  boat-house  now,  and  she  is  the  prettiest 
thing  you  ever  laid  your  eyes  on  ;  looks  as  though 


104  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

she  ought  to  run  like  a  scared  deer  without  any  oars 
at  all.  Now  I  want  to  make  up  a  first  class  crew 
if  I  can,  and  challenge  the  Sportsman's  Club  to  a 
trial  of  speed." 

"  You  couldn't  find  two  better  fellows  than  Frank 
and  his  cousin.  Archie  would  make  a  good  coxswain 
or  bow  oar." 

"  Well,  if  they  consent  to  help  me,  that  will  make 
three  of  us.  I  want  two  more.  Perhaps  Sam  Nes- 
bit  and  Dick  Randolph  are  the  best  I  could  find. 
But  that  isn't  all.  Mr.  Gaylord  has  purchased 
Bayard's  yacht,  the  Three  Bells,  and  presented  her 
to  Eugene.  She's  the  swiftest  boat  about  the  village 
next  to  Bab's,  and  perhaps  with  a  fellow  in  com 
mand  who  understood  his  business  could  beat  even 
her.  What  do  you  suppose  Bayard  would  say  if 
he  should  come  back  here  now  and  find  how  his 
things  have  been  scattered  about  ?  But  none  of  us 
expect  to  see  him  again." 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  to  amuse  yourselves 
since  you  have  been  here?"  asked  George,  when 
his  companion  paused. 

"  I  only  came  yesterday.  There's  nothing  been 
done  yet,  for  Walter  wanted  to  wait  until  all  the 
boys  arrived.  We're  all  here  now — you  and  your 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  105 

friends  were  the  last — and  to-morrow  we  are  to  be 
gin  operations.  First  comes  the  grand  hunt  for 
the  game-dinner.  By  the  way,  do  your  friends  ride 
or  shoot  ?" 

'-  Rather,"  replied  George,  with  a  laugh.  "  Give 
him  a  good  horse  and  gun,  and  there's  none  of  you 
can  beat  that  little  fellow." 

Wilson,  who  was  sometimes  given  to  boasting  of 
his  accomplishments  in  this  line,  looked  over  his 
shoulder  at  Archie,  who  was  conversing  with  Eugene 
and  Featherweight,  and  took  his  measure.  He  did 
not  look  like  such  a  very  formidable  fellow,  and 
Wilson  made  the  mental  resolution  that  if  he  ever 
met  him  in  the  field  he  would  see  what  he  was  made 
of. 

u  To-morrow  the  hunt  comes  off,"  Wilson  went 
on.  u  The  next  day  is  Christmas,  so  we  can't  do 
anything  but  eat  and  have  fun  about  the  house. 
Next  day  come  the  trials  of  speed  between  the  sin 
gle  sculls  and  four-oared  boats,  arid  on  the  next 
there  is  to  be  a  yacht  race  and  a  picnic  on  Lost 
Island.  That  will  not  be  so  grand  an  affair  as  we 
should  like  to  make  it,  for  it  is  rather  out  of  season, 
you  know,  and  besides  we  can  raise  only  eight  boats. 
The  most  of  the  Columbia  Yacht  Club  are  off  visit- 


L06  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

ing  their  friends.     The  next  day  will  be   Sunday, 
and  the  next  is  Uncle  Dick's  day." 

"  Uncle  Dick's  day  ?" 

Wilson  nodded  his  head. 

"  What  is  he  going  to  do  ?" 

"  Haven't  even  the  shadow  of  an  idea.  He  de 
clares  that  we  must  all  obey  his  orders,  and  that's 
all  we  know  about  it." 

"  Boys,  breakfast  is  ready,"  interrupted  Walter. 
"  Go  down  with  Eugene  and  make  yourselves  at 
home,  while  I  take  George  and  our  new  friends  to 
see  father  and  the  rest." 

Frank  and  Archie  were  as  much  pleased  with 
Walter's  parents  as  they  had  been  with  the  General 
and  his  family,  and  the  welcome  extended  to  them 
was  as  cordial  as  they  could  have  desired.  They 
were  somewhat  surprised  at  the  hilarity  that  pre 
vailed  among  the  guests  to  whom  they  were  intro 
duced.  The  house  was  filled  with  gentlemen  and 
ladies,  boys  and  girls,  and  as  each  enjoyed  himself 
in  his  own  way,  and  without  the  least  restraint,  the 
noise  and  hubbub  that  sometimes  arose,  especially 
when  such  fellows  as  Eugene  and  Featherweight 
joined  in  the  sports,  were  bewildening. 

"  Mr.  Gaylord  seems  to  be  the  youngest  one  here," 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS  107 

said  Frank  to  his  friend,  as  Walter  led  the  way  to 
the  breakfast  room. 

"  0,  wait  until  you  see  Uncle  Dick  play  Blind 
Man's  Buff,"  replied  George.  "Then  you'll  hear 
noise." 

Frank  and  his  cousin  already  hegan  to  feel  quite 
at  home  among  their  new  acquaintances.  They 
joined  heartily  in  the  fun  and  merriment  that  pre 
vailed  about  the  breakfast  table,  and  when  the  meal 
AVUS  finished  were  taken  in  charge  by  Walter,  while 
the  rest  of  the  boys  strolled  out  to  look  at  the  horses, 
hounds  and  yachts. 

Walter  had  told  the  cousins  that  he  was  about  to 
take  them  into  the  cabin  to  see  Uncle  Dick  ;  and  as 
they  had  no  idea  where  the  cabin  was  situated,  we 
can  imagine  how  great  was  their  surprise  when  they 
found  themselves  on  the  roof  of  the  house.  They 
looked  up  into  the  tops  of  the  elms  that  surrounded 
the  mansion,  and  wondered  if  Walter  was  going  to 
ask  them  to  follow  him  up  among  the  branches. 
u  No!"  said  the  latter,  who  easily  read  what  was 
passing  in  their  minds  ;  "  we  are  not  going  up  any 
higher.  This  is  the  way." 

As  he  spoke,  he  threw  open  a  door  disclosing  to 
view  a  ladder  which  ran  down  under  the  roof.  When 


108  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

they  descended  they  found  themselves  in  the  presence 
of  a  portly  old  gentleman  in  immense  collar  and 
neck-tie,  who  sat  at  a  table  engaged  in  writing. 

Their  first  interview  with  the  old  sailor  was  one 
that  the  cousins  long  remembered.  They  had  never 
met  a  pleasanter  or  more  amusing  companion,  and 
they  almost  envied  Walter  the  possession  of  such  an 
uncle.  He  exhibited  great  interest  in  all  the  plans 
his  nephews  had  determined  upon  for  the  amusement 
of  themselves  and  friends,  and  talked  about  them 
with  as  much  enthusiasm  as  if  he  had  been  a  boy  him  • 
self.  One  thing  that  seemed  very  strange  to  Frank 
and  Archie  was  to  hear  arrangements  discussed 
for  boat  races,  picnics  and  regattas  to  come  off  in 
the  middle  of  winter.  Regattas  might  have  been 
held  on  the  Kennebec  if  ice-boats  were  plenty,  but 
not  otherwise. 

"By  the  way,"  exclaimed  Uncle  Dick,  suddenly 
turning  to  Frank,  "  do  you  know  anything  about  a 
vessel,  Mr.  Nelson?" 

"  Very  little,  sir,"  replied  Frank. 

"  Humph  !"  said  George.  "I  should  think  he 
ought  to  know  more  than  a  little,  seeing  that  he  was 
the  captain  of  a  gunboat  during  the  war." 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  109 

"  The  captain  of  a  gunboat  !"  cried  the  old  sailor, 
in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  he  did  good  fighting  too,  and  was 
complimented  for  it  by  the  admiral  himself.  Archie 
here,  was  Paymaster  in  the  Navy." 

That  was  enough  for  Uncle  Dick.  He  himself 
had  been  commander  of  one  of  our  blockading 
squadron,  and  now  for  the  first  time  since  the  war 
he  had  found  s-ome  one  who  could  sympathize  with 
him,  and  converse  with  him  on  familiar  subjects. 
From  that  time  forth  he  devoted  himself  entirely  to 
Frank.  He  talked  to  him  about  the  duties  of  offi 
cers,  the  stationing  of  guns'  crews,  the  management 
of  vessels,  the  best  way  to  secure  a  gun  that  had 
taken  charge  of  the  deck,*  and  tested  Frank's 
knowledge  of  nautical  matters  in  every  possible 
way.  So  interested  did  those  present  become  in 

*  It  sometimes  happens  on  board  men-of-war  that,  during 
a  gale,  a  gun,  being  improperly  secured,  breaks  loose  from 
its  fastenings,  and  by  the  pitching  and  rolling  of  the  vessel 
is  thrown  about  in  the  most  fearful  manner,  endangering 
not  only  the  safety  of  the  ship,  but  the  limbs  and  lives  of 
her  company.  The  gun  is  then  said  to  "  have  charge  of  the 
deck."  Perhaps  nothing,  except  shipwreck,  causes  so  great 
excitement  and  consternation  among  the  crew. 


HO  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

listening  to  the  conversation,  that  they  remained  in 
the  cabin  until  four  o'clock,  at  which  time  old  Bob 
thrust  his  woolly  head  down  the  companion-way  and 
announced  that  dinner  was  ready.  While  they 
were  at  the  table  Uncle  Dick  paid  Frank  every  at 
tention,  and  excited  considerable  interest  among  the 
guests,  and  drew  towards  him  many  curious  glances, 
by  addressing  him  by  his  old  navy  title.  When 
dinner  was  over  he  took  him  to  the  stables  to  show 
him  the  horses,  thence  to  the  kennels  to  look  at  the 
hounds,  and  lastly  to  the  jetty  to  examine  the 
yachts.  There  were  eight  of  them,  mostly  schooners, 
anchored  in  the  bay,  and  they  were  a  portion  of  the 
fleet  belonging  to  the  Columbia  Yacht  Club.  There 
was  Bab's  rakish  little  Coquette,  the  swiftest  boat 
of  them  all ;  the  Sunshine,  which  belonged  to 
Featherweight ;  the  Three  Bells,  which  Mr.  Gaylord 
had  just  presented  to  Eugene;  and  the  gallant  little 
Banner,  Walter's  flagship.  Frank  opened  his  eyes 
with  surprise  as  he  listened  to  the  recital  of  the 
thrilling  adventures  through  which  the  schooner  and 
her  crew  had  just  passed,  and  Uncle  Dick,  finding 
that  he  had  an  interested  auditor,  related  the  story 
of  the  voyage  to  Cuba  at  some  length.  When  they 
returned  to  the  house  he  took  Frank  to  the  cabin, 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  Ill 

and  might  have  kept  him  there  all  night,  had  not 
Mr.  Gaylord  about  eight  o'clock  sent  up  word  by  old 
Bob  that  it  was  high  time  they  were  making  some 
arrangements  for  the  hunt  that  was  to  come  off  the 
next  day. 

"Here  you  are!"  exclaimed  Eugene,  who  seized 
Frank  as  he  entered  the  parlor  in  company  with 
Uncle  Dick.  "Walter  sent  me  to  find  you  and 
bring  you  up  stairs.  I've  scarcely  had  a  chance  to 
speak  to  you  since  breakfast.  That's  the  way 
Uncle  Dick  always  does.  If  he  takes  a  fancy  to 
any  one,  he  will  not  let  anybody  else  look  at  him 
if  he  can  help  it.  Where  are  you  going  with  him  ?" 

"I  don't  know  that  I  am  going  anywhere,"  re 
plied  Frank. 

"Why,  I  heard  him  tell  father  to-night  that  he 
was  going  to  take  you  and  Archie  with  him." 

"He  hasn't  said  a  word  to  me  about  it." 

"0,  that  isn't  his  way  of  doing  business.  He 
never  consults  anybody.  We  all  have  to  do  just  as 
he  says.  He's  got  some  plan  in  his  head  for  your 
amusement.  We  have  been  making  up  our  minds 
what  we  are  going  to  do  to-morrow.  You  see  we 
little  fellows  are  expected  to  find  the  small  game  for 


112  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  table,  while  the  men  shoot  the  deer  and  bears. 
Come  in." 

So  saying,  Eugene  opened  a  door  and  ushered 
Frank  into  the  Club's  room.  The  boys  he  had  met 
in  the  morning  were  all  there,  and  an  animated  dis 
cussion  was  going  on. 

"  Perhaps,  Archie,  you  will  see  more  sport  if  you 
go  with  the  men,"  said  Walter,  as  Frank  entered 
and  took  the  chair  Eugene  placed  for  him  in  front 
of  the  fire. 

"0,  no,"  replied  Archie.  "I'd  rather  go  with 
Eugene  and  Featherweight." 

"  Why,  after  one  has  killed  a  bear,  and  beaten 
the  best  rider  in  Catahoola  parish,  he  won't  see 
much  fun  in  tramping  around  all  day  on  foot  after 
such  small  game  as  snipe.  That  will  be  quite  a 
come-down." 

This  made  it  evident  that  Walter  had  heard  the 
particulars  of  his  recent  exploits,  and  the  loud  clap 
ping  of  hands  that  followed  showed  that  the  rest  of 
the  boys  in  the  room  had  heard  of  them  too. 
Archie  was  so  confused  that  for  a  moment  he  did 
not  know  what  to  say. 

"  I  don't  think  it  will  be  so  much  of  a  come-down 
after  all,"  he  replied,  as  soon  as  he  found  his 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  113 

tongue.  "  It  requires  much  more  skill  to  stop  a 
snipe  on  the  wing  than  it  does  to  bring  a  bear  out 
of  a  tree." 

"  Well  then,  it  is  settled  that  you  and  Feather 
weight  and  Eugene  are  to  find  the  snipe,"  said 
Walter.  "If  you  are  fond  of  shooting  on  the  wing 
I  can  promise  you  fine  sport,  for  the  birds  are  very 
abundant  in  the  marshes,  and  we  own  a  brace  of  the 
best  setters  that  ever  a  gun  was  pointed  over.  Now, 
Frank,  would  you  like  to  go  down  the  bay  with 
Perk  and  me  after  wild-geese  ?" 

Frank  replied  that  he  would  be  delighted,  and 
thus  the  arrangements  were  all  made,  as  Bab,  Nes- 
bit  and  Randolph  had  agreed  to  go  up  the  bayou 
after  ducks,  and  George  and  the  rest  were  to  ride 
over  to  Beach  Ridge  early  in  the  morning  to  shoot 
wild-turkeys.  After  a  little  more  conversation,  the 
boys  separated,  and  went  to  their  rooms  to  dream  of 
the  fine  sport  they  expected  on  the  morrow. 


114  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  VII. 

UNCLE    DICK'S    SECRET. 

A  SINGLE  glance  at  the  horses  and  hounds  in 
Mr.  Gaylord's  stables  and  kennels,  and  a  peep 
at  the  interior  of  his  storehouse,  about  four  o'clock 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day,  would  have 
been  enough  to  satisfy  any  one  that  the  deer  and 
bear  hunters  had  ridden  long  and  rapidly,  and  that 
they,  as  well  as  those  who  visited  the  bay,  bayou 
and  marshes,  had  enjoyed  the  best  of  sport.  The 
walls  of  the  storehouse  were  literally  lined  with 
game ;  three  bears,  twice  as  many  deer,  nine  wild- 
turkeys,  twenty-three  brace  of  snipe,  forty  wild- 
geese  and  as  many  mallards  and  canvas-backs,  com 
prising  the  proceeds  of  the  hunt.  The  members 
of  the  different  parties  had  been  successful  beyond 
their  expectations,  and  where  all  had  done  so  well, 
it  is  hard  to  tell  who  had  done  the  best.  Perhaps 
Eugene  and  his  two  companions  felt  the  results  of 
the  hunt  more  sensibly  than  the  rest,  for  they  had 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  115 

been  on  foot  since  daybreak,  tramping  about  the 
marshes,  and  they  were  glad  indeed  to  find  them 
selves  at  home  once  more. 

The  hunters  were  all  fn  at  four  o'clock,  and  supper 
was  not  long  delayed.  When  it  was  over,  the  entire 
company,  led  by  Uncle  Dick,  adjourned  to  the 
parlors,  and  then  ensued  a  scene  that  was  seldom 
witnessed  in  any  house  except  the  one  of  which  we 
write.  It  was  Christmas  eve,  and  everybody  ought 
to  be  happy,  declared  the  old  sailor,  who  was  the 
life  of  the  party.  Music,  dancing,  singing,  Blind 
Man's  Buff,  Puss  in  the  Corner,  Snap  Dragon,  and 
other  games,  in  which  old  and  young  joined  with 
boisterous  merriment,  followed  one  another;  and  at 
last  when  the  party  were  all  tired  out,  and  the  hands 
of  the  old  clock  in  the  hall  pointed  to  eleven, 
Featherweight's  little  sister  was  perched  upon  an 
ottoman  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  recited  to 
admiring  listeners  that  old  poem,  which  will  never 
be  forgotten  as  long  as  St.  Nick  is  remembered, 
beginning : 

"  ?Twas  the  night  before  Christmas,  and  all  through  the 

house, 
Not  a  creature  was  stirring,  not  even  a  mouse." 


116  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Then,  after  Featherweight  had  sung  one  of  his 
sailor  songs,  and  the  Club  had  given  a  hunting 
chorus,  the  guests  bade  one  another  good-night  and 
separated. 

Wilson  had  declared  that  there  was  nothing  to  be 
done  on  Christmas  except  to  eat  and  have  fun  about 
the  house,  but  he  must  have  changed  his  mind  ;  for 
the  first  thing  he  did  after  breakfast,  was  to  assemble 
the  crew  he  had  selected  for  his  shell  and  lead  them 
to  the  boat-house.  The  races  were  to  come  off  on 
the  following  day,  and  he  wanted  to  find  out  what 
his  men  could  do  before  he  challenged  the  Sports 
man's  Club  to  a  trial  of  speed.  His  object  was  to 
slip  away  from  the  other  boys,  for  he  did  not  want 
them  to  see  his  crew  at  work  ;  but  when  he  and  his 
companions  reached  the  boat-house,  what  was  their 
surprise  to  find  the  Club  all  there,  stripping  their 
shell  of  her  covering  and  getting  her  into  the  water. 

"  Why,  what  in  the  world  are  you  fellows  doing 
here?"  inquired  Wilson.  "You  surely  are  not 
going  out  to  row  on  Christmas?" 

"  Now,  Innocence  !"  exclaimed  Eugene.  "  What 
are  you  doing  here  ?" 

"You  have  caught  us  in  the  very  act,  haven't  you?" 
said  Walter,  with  a  laugh.  "  We  certainly  are  going 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  117 

out  for  a  short  pull.  We  want  to  stretch  our 
muscles." 

"  That's  just  what  we  came  for,  but,  to  tell  the 
truth,  we  didn't  want  you  to  know  it.  Here,  fellows, 
let's  put  the  Emma  into  the  water.  If  the  Club 
want  their  muscles  stretched  we'll  da  it  for  them." 

The  facts  of  the  case  were  that  Walter,  having 
heard  that  Frank  had  consented  to  pull  in  Wilson's 
boat,  had  become  a  little  uneasy.  Frank  was  expe 
rienced,  for  he  had  rowed  more  than  one  race,  and 
his  broad  shoulders  and  long  arms  looked  as  though 
they  ought  to  have  plenty  of  muscle  in  them. 
Wilson  had  also  secured  the  services  of  Nesbit  and 
Randolph,  two  capital  oarsmen,  and  as  he  was  a 
host  in  himself,  the  Emma  had  a  strong  force  to  back 
her.  More  than  that,  Frank  had  promised,  after  a 
good  deal  of  urging,  to  pull  a  single  scull  race  against 
Bab ;  and  that  young  gentleman,  after  taking  a 
good  look  at  his  muscular  opponent,  thought  it  best 
to  put  himself  in  training.  Each  party  was  afraid 
of  the  other,  and  there  was  but  one  way  to  test  their 
respective  merits  and  decide  the  question  of  superi 
ority. 

Wilson  and  his  crew  went  to  work  as  soon  as  the 
Club  pulled  out  of  the  boat-house,  and  in  a  few 


118  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

minutes  had  their  shell  in  the  water.  She  was 
'indeed  a  beauty,  arid  looked,  as  her  happy  owner 
declared,  "as  if  she  ought  to  run  without  any  oars 
at  all." 

"  I  was  badly  beaten  in  this  same  boat  last  sum 
mer,"  said  Wilson,  as  he  and  his  companions  pulled 
off  their  coats  and  vests  and  rolled  up  their  shirt 
sleeves,  "  but  then  she  didn't  have  the  crew  she's  got 
now.  Here,  Archie,  you  shall  steer  for  us.  Frank, 
please  take  the  stroke  oar.  I'll  sit  next,  Nesbit  next, 
and  Randolph  in  the  bow.  Now  then,  coxswain." 

Archie  was  about  to  give  the  order  to  shove  off, 
when  the  Spray  dashed  by  on  her  way  down  the 
bay.  She  went  like  the  wind,  her  crew  pulling  a 
strong,  even  stroke,  and  feathering  their  oars  like 
practised  sailors.  She  had  lost  none  of  her  speed 
during  the  three  months  she  had  lain  idle  in  the 
boat-house,  and  neither  had  the  champions  lost  any 
of  their  strength  and  skill. 

"  There's  no  use  in  going  out  there,  fellows,"  said 
Archie,  gazing  with  surprise  and  admiration  at  the 
flying  boat,  which  skimmed  over  the  water  so  lightly 
that  she  scarcely  seemed  to  touch  it.  "We're 
beaten  if  we  do." 

"  That  remains  to  be  seen,"  replied  Wilson.     "  If 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  119 

we  are,  it  will  be  the  Club's  training  that  does  it. 
They  have  pulled  together  for  years.     All  ready.'* 

"•Shove  off!"  commanded  Archie.  "Let  fall! 
Give  way  together  !"  he  added,  as  soon  as  the  Emma 
was  clear  of  the  boat-house. 

The  Club  saw  their  old  rival  approaching,  and 
resting  on  their  oars  waited  for  her  to  come  up  ;  but 
Archie  had  no  intention  of  meeting  them  until  his 
crew  had  had  at  least  a  little  exercise  together,  so  he 
made  a  long  turn  and  stood  up  the  bay. 

If  Wilson  and  his  men  had  admired  the  rowing 
of  the  Club,  the  movements  of  the  crew  of  the  Emma 
were  equally  admired  by  Walter  and  his  friends,  who 
watched  them  closely  and  with  critical  eyes  as  they 
flew  along.  Frank  pulled  the  long  man-of-war 
stroke,  and  when  he  and  his  companions  laid  out 
their  strength  on  ,the  oars,  the  boat  seemed  to  be 
lifted  fairly  out  of  the  water.  After  a  sharp  pull  of 
half  a  mile  Wilson  expressed  himself  satisfied,  and 
requested  Archie  to  turn  about  and  go  down  to  meet 
the  Club.  The  latter  seeing  them  approach,  rounded 
to  and  waited  for  them  to  come  alongside. 

"  Now  then,  if  you  want  your  muscles  stretched, 
come  on,"  said  Wilson. 

"Back  water  a  little  until  we  get  even,"  replied 


120  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Walter.  "  That's  about  square,  I  think.  Now, 
when  I  count  three,  go.  Are  you  ready  ?" 

"  All  ready,"  answered  Frank. 

«  One— two— three  /" 

The  eight  oars  struck  the  water  at  the  same  in 
stant,  and  the  boats  shot  ahead  like  arrows.  The 
rowers  strained  every  nerve  to  the  utmost,  the  cox 
swains  yelled  and  bent  their  bodies  back  and  forth 
as  if  by  that  means  they  could  increase  the  speed  of 
their  respective  crafts,  and  the  race  was  exciting 
indeed.  On  they  went  past  the  boat-house,  and 
although  they  did  not  raise  their  eyes,  they  knew 
by  the  shouts  that  reached  their  ears  that  a  goodly 
number  of  spectators  were  assembled  on  the  jetty. 
"That's  it,  Frank!"  "Good  for  you,  "Wilson!" 
"  Work  hard,  Nesbit !"  "  Well  pulled,  Randolph  !" 
shouted  several  voices  in  concert,  but  not  a  word  of 
encouragement  was  addressed  to  Walter  and  his  crew. 
If  any  of  the  boys  on  the  jetty  wanted  their  new 
friends  beaten,  they  did  not  say  so. 

For  half  a  mile  the  rival  boats  remained  side  by 
side,  and  neither  could  gain  the  advantage;  then 
the  training  of  Walter's  crew  began  to  be  made  ap 
parent,  as  Wilson  had  feared,  and  the  Spray  gradu 
ally  drew  ahead.  She  not  only  kept  the  lead  but 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  121 

increased  it  every  moment ;  and  Archie  seeing  that 
further  exertion  was  useless,  cried  "  way  enough," 
and  gave  up  the  contest.  "Never  mind,"  said 
Wilson,  encouragingly,  "  we're  not  beaten  yet.  This 
is  the  first  time  we  ever  pulled  together,  you  know. 
They  can't  do  that  to-morrow.  What  do  you  think 
of  us  now,  Walter?"  he  asked,  as  the  Spray  came 
alongside,  and  the  two  boats  moved  slowly  up  the 
bay  toward  home. 

"  I  think  that  if  you  pull  faster  than  we  do,  you 
will  reach  the  jetty  first,"  was  the  reply. 

The  challenge  was  promptly  accepted,  and  an 
other  spirited  race  ensued,  which  was  so  well  con 
tested  that  when  the  Spray  reached  the  jetty,  the 
Emma  was  not  more  than  a  length  behind.  Nu 
merous  were  the  congratulations  both  crews  received 
from  the  boys  gathered  on  the  wharf,  as  they  stepped 
out  of  their  shells  and  pulled  on  their  coats,  but 
they  were  not  dwelt  upon,  for  a  matter  of  unusual 
interest  was  occupying  the  minds  of  their  young 
friends.  "  Don't  I  wish  I  stood  in  your  boots  just 
now,  Walter  Gaylord?"  cried  one. 

"  Why  ?"  asked  Walter.  "  They  gave  us  all  we 
could  do.  and  we  didn't  beat  them  very  badly." 

"  0,  I  wasn't  thinking  about  the  race.     I  had 


122  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

reference  to  a  different  matter  altogether.     You're  a 
lucky  fellow." 

"Your  uncle  is  the  best  man  in  the  world,"  said 
another. 

"  And  so  is  your  father !"  exclaimed  a  third. 

"  I  always  knew  that ;  but  what  have  they  been 
doing  now  ?" 

"  I  say,  Walter,"  chimed  in  a  fourth,  "you  and 
Eugene  just  think  of  me  sometimes,  will  you?" 

"  Why,  what  do  you  mean?  I  don't  know  what 
you  are  trying  to  get  at." 

"  Marse  Walter,"  cried  old  Bob,  hastily  elbowing 
his  way  through  the  crowd  of  excited  boys  ;  "  de 
cap'n  say  whar  you  been  dat  you  don't  come  in  de 
cabin  when  he  tol'  you  ?  He  say  all  de  Club,  an' 
dem  young  gemmen  what  come  here  yesterday,  go 
dar  right  quick." 

"That's  a  summons  not  to  be  disregarded,"  said 
Walter,  walking  rapidly  toward  the  house.  "  Come 
on,  Frank.  He  sent  for  you  and  Archie,  too." 

"  I  wonder  what  he  wants  with  us  ?"  said  Archie. 

"  There's  no  knowing." 

"  It  is  possible  that  he  wants  to  tell  us  about  that 
'mysterious  something,'  that  is  to  come  off  some 
time  between  this  and  New  Year's,"  said  Eugene. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  123 

The  Club  were  full  of  speculations,  and  as  they 
hurried  along,  suggested  to  one  another  a  dozen 
different  subjects  that  Uncle  Dick  wanted  to  talk 
to  them  about.  When  they  entered  the  cabin,  they 
found  George  Le  Dell  in  earnest  conversation  with 
the  old  sailor,  and  heard  him  declare  in  gleeful 
tones :  "  It  is  the  very  thing  of  all  others  I  have 
long  wished  to  do,  Uncle  Dick,  and  I  will  certainly 
go.  I  shall  never  forget  your  kindness." 

"Yes,  yes,  that's  all  understood!"  exclaimed 
Uncle  Dick,  hastily.  "  Sit  down,  boys,"  he  added, 
assuming  a  fierce  frown.  "  What  do  you  mean  by 
going  off  to  row  boat-races  when  I  wanted  you 
here  ?" 

"  Why,  uncle,  we  didn't  know  you  wanted  us." 
"Well,  you  have  come  at  last,  and  I — I — "  The 
old  sailor  finished  his  sentence  by  scowling  savagely 
at  Featherweight,  and  winking  his  right  eye  at 
George,  who  seemed  to  be  very  much  pleased  about 
something.  The  Club,  although  they  could  scarcely 
restrain  their  curiosity  and  impatience,  knew  very 
well  that  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  hurry 
Uncle  Dick,  so  they  settled  back  in  their  chairs  and 
waited  for  him  to  speak. 

"  When  he  opens  his  mouth,  the  secret,  whatever 


124  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

it  is,  will  come  out  all  at  once,"  said  Perk  to  Frank, 
and  so  it  proved ;  for  after  Uncle  Dick  bad  frowned 
upon  each  member  of  the  Club  in  succession,  and 
winked  first  one  eye  and  then  the  other  at  Frank, 
be  exclaimed : 

"  Boys,  what  do  you  say  to  a  voyage  around  the 
world  ?  I  am  going,  and  who  wants  to  go  with  me? 
Silence,  sir,  sit  down,"  he  added,  turning  abruptly 
upon  Eugene,  wrho,  as  soon  as  he  fairly  comprehended 
the  question,  sprang  up  and  uttered  a  wild  hurrah. 

"I  want  to  go,  for  one,"  said  the  boy,  scarcely 
able  to  restrain  himself. 

"  Is  this  the  '  something'  that  you  have  been  con 
stantly  referring  to  for  several  weeks  past  ?"  inquired 
Walter.  "  Please  explain." 

"  That's  a  sensible  request,"  said  the  old  sailor, 
dropping  his  bantering  tone  and  speaking  seriously. 
"Your  parents  and  I  have  often  talked  this  matter 
over,  and — remember  now,  that  I  am  not  talking  to 
Walter  and  Eugene,  but  to  the  Club." 

"  Why,  have  you  spoken  to  my  parents  about  it?" 
asked  Bab,  in  surprise. 

^Now  just  listen  to  me  a  minute,  and  I'll  ask 
you  a  question,"  chimed  in  Perk.  "  Did  you  speak 
to  mine,  too?" 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  125 

u  Yes,  and  to  Fred's  also,  and  they  have  all  given 
their  consent.  They  want  you  to  see  something  of 
foreign  countries,  and  I  want  to  see  more  of  them 
myself.  I  am  tired  of  staying  ashore.  I  want  to 
make  just  one  more  voyage,  and  I  must  do  it  pretty 
soon,  for  I  am  getting  to  be  an  old  man.  I  don't 
know  of  any  companions  I  would  rather  have  during 
a  voyage  of  a  year  and  a  half  than  you.  My 
brother  and  I  have  talked  the  matter  over,  made  all 
necessary  arrangements ;  and  among  other  things, 
we  have  concluded  that  it  will  be  best  to  make  the  trip 
in  our  own  craft.  Then  we  can  go  where  we  please, 
and  stay  as  long  as  we  feel  like  it.  We  have  been 
engaged  for  the  last  six  months  in  building  a  vessel 
which  will  be  ready  for  launching  on  Monday.  We 
are  going  to  New  Orleans,  all  of  us,  to  see  her 
safely  in  the  water,  and  as  soon  as  she  can  be  fitted 
up.  we're  off." 

"Where  are  we  going,  Uncle  Dick?"  asked 
Featherweight. 

"  Well,  in  the  first  place,  we'll  go  around  the 
Horn  to  San  Francisco.  The  vessel  will  stop  there 
while  we  make  a  trip  into  the  interior  to  look  at  the 
big  trees  and  the  Yo  Semite;  and  it  is  very  likely 
that  we  shall  cross  the  mountains  into  the  Indian 


126  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

country.  They  are  fighting  out  there,  you  know, 
and  perhaps  you  would  like  to  see  how  Indian  war 
fare  is  carried  on.  When  we  have  seen  all  we  can 
there,  we  will  run  up  the  coast  to  Alaska,  if  we  so 
decide,  and  if  not,  we'll  go  across  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  visit  China  and  Japan,  and  then  go  down 
to  Ceylon,  where  you  boys  will  have  a  chance  to  try 
you  skill  on  big  game — lions,  tigers  and  so  on." 

"  Hurrah  !"  shouted  Eugene. 

"  Silence  !"  roared  Uncle  Dick,  with  another 
fierce  frown.  "  But  the  best  part  of  the  whole  ex 
pedition — that  is,  the  one  from  which  I  expect  the 
most  pleasure  and  sport — will  be  a  journey  into  the 
interior  of  Africa.  We'll  stop  at  Natal,  buy  oxen, 
horses,  wagons  and  other  things  we  may  need,  and 
perhaps  follow  the  route  travelled  by  Gumming  and 
Baldwin  some  years  ago." 

"  Hur — ahem  !"  exclaimed  Eugene,  wrhile  the 
rest  of  the  Club  looked  at  one  another  in  a  doubt 
ful  kind  of  way,  as  if  they  could  hardly  persuade 
themselves  that  their  ears  were  not  deceiving  them. 

"Be  careful,  sir,"  cautioned  Uncle  Dick.  "I 
visited  that  country  a.  few  years  ago,  and  killed  the 
elephant  which  carried  that  ivory,"  he  added,  point 
ing  to  a  pair  of  huge  tusks  in  his  book-case.  "  That 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  127 

is  as  far  as  our  route  has  been  marked  out,  and  even 
that  may  be  changed.  Whenever  we  can't  make 
up  our  minds  where  we  want  to  go,  we  will  put  the 
matter  to  a  vote,  and  the  majority  shall  rule." 

"But,  uncle,  who  are  going  ?"  asked  Walter. 

"  I  am,  for  one,  and  all  the  Club,  and  our  friend 
George  Le  Dell.  So  many  we  are  sure  of,  if  nothing 
happens." 

The  exclamations  of  delight  that  arose  on  all 
sides,  proved  that  the  last-named  young  gentleman 
would  be  a  most  acceptable  companion  to  the  Club  ; 
and  as  for  George  himself,  he  looked  as  pleased  and 
happy  as  a  boy  could. 

"  And  I  hope  to  be  able  to  add  two  more  to  our 
party,"  continued  Uncle  Dick,  scowling  at  Eugene 
just  in  time  to  check  another  shout.  "  I  know  you 
have  been  acquainted  with  them  but  a  short  time, 
but  from  what  George  says  of  them,  and  from  what 
I  have  seen  of  them  myself,  I  am  led  to  believe  that 
they  would  prove  very  agreeable  fellow-voyagers. 
I  mean  the  Captain  and  his  cousin." 

"  There,"  whispered  Eugene,  turning  to  Frank. 
"  That's  what  Uncle  Djck  meant  when  he  told  father 
that  he  was  going  to  take  you  with  him.  Now  don't 
say  you  can't  go." 


128  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  Captain,  we  want  you  and  Archie  to  join  our 
party.  Will  you  accept  the  invitation?"  asked  the 
old  sailor. 

Frank  and  his  cousin,  who  had  listened  atten 
tively  to  this  conversation,  almost  disposed  to  envy 
their  friends  their  good  fortune,  were  too  amazed  at 
first  to  make  an  intelligible  reply  to  this  question 
so  abruptly  asked.  They  could  only  stammer  forth 
their  thanks,  and  tell  Uncle  Dick  that  the  folks  at 
home  must  be  consulted  before  they  could  give  a  de 
cided  answer. 

"Very  well,  take  your  time  and  think  it  over," 
said  the  old  sailor,  good-naturedly.  "  There's  no 
hurry,  for  we  shall  not  start  under  two  or  three 
months." 

"And  just  bear  in  mind  that  such  a  chance 
does'nt  happen  more  than  once  in  a  lifetime,"  said 
Walter.  "  If  you  don't  go  I  hope  you  will  always 
be  sorry  for  it.  But,  Uncle  Dick,  who  is  to  com 
mand  the  vessel  ?" 

"  I  am,  of  course." 

"  And  are  we  boys  to  be  the  crew  ?"  asked 
Featherweight. 

"  No,  sir.  You  are  to  be  passengers,  and  you  are 
expected  to  behave  yourselves  too." 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  129 

"  What  sort  of  a  looking  craft  is  your  new  vessel  ? 
What  is  her  name  ?" 

"You  will  know  more  about  her  when  you  have 
seen  her.  There  !  I  can't  talk  to  you  any  longer, 
for  I  must  get  ready  for  dinner.  Go  on  deck,  all 
of  you." 

The  boys,  who  had  not  even  yet  fully  made  up 
their  minds  that  the  interview  through  which  they 
had  just  passed  was  not  all  a  dream,  scrambled  up 
the  ladder  and  slammed  the  door  behind  them. 
Little  besides  the  proposed  voyage  was  talked  about 
at  the  dinner-table,  and  many  were  the  hearty  wishes 
expressed  by  the  guests  that  the  party  might  enjoy 
a  pleasant  cruise,  have  plenty  of  sport  and  a  safe 
voyage  homeward.  At  every  opportunity  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Club  urged  Frank  and  Archie  to  say 
that  they  would  go,  and  even  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaylord 
united  with  them  in  pressing  the  cousins  to  accept 
the  invitation.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that 
had  the  boys  consulted  their  own  inclinations,  a 
favorable  response  would  have  been  promptly  re 
turned  ;  but  knowing  that  if  they  went  they  would 
be  separated  from  home  at  least  a  year  and  a  half, 
arid  perhaps  even  twice  as  long,  they  did  not  feel  at 
liberty  to  decide  until  they  heard  what  their  relatives 
9 


130  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

had  to  say  about  it.  In  order  that  the  matter  might 
be  settled  as  quickly  as  possible,  Frank  wrote  a  long 
letter  to  Archie's  father  that  very  night,  containing 
all  the  particulars  of  the  proposed  voyage  as  far  as 
he  had  heard  them,  asking  his  advice  concerning  the 
acceptance  of  the  invitation,  and  requesting  him  to 
address  his  reply  to  Gibbs's  Landing. 

If  space  would  permit,  we  might  tell  of  many 
interesting  incidents  that  happened  at  the  mansion 
during  the  next  two  days ;  but  our  book  is  almost 
half  written,  and  not  a  word  has  yet  been  said  about 
the  Club's  adventures  among  the  trappers ;  so  we 
must  hasten  on,  with  only  a  passing  glance  at  the 
principal  events. 

The  clerk  of  the  weather  must  have  been  favorably 
disposed  towards  Mr.  Gaylord's  guests,  for  they  had 
a  splendid  day  for  the  races.  The  morning  dawned 
bright  and  warm,  and  there  was  not  even  a  breath 
of  air  to  ruffle  the  bay,  which  was  as  smooth  as  the 
surface  of  a  mirror.  Some  time  was  spent  in  select 
ing  judges  and  starters,  and  in  marking  out  a 
course  ;  but  at  ten  o'clock  the  arrangements  were  all 
completed,  and  the  trials  of  muscle  and  endurance 
began.  The  first,  and  the  great  race  of  the  day,  was 
between  the  two  rivals,  the  Spray  and  the  Emma. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  131 

At  its  conclusion  but  one  opinion  prevailed  among 
the  spectators,  and  that  was,  that  if  Wilson  and  his 
crew  could  spend  a  week  or  two  in  practice,  the 
champions  would  be  compelled  to  take  back  seats. 
The  Spray  came  in  first,  of  course ;  but  when  she 
passed  the  judges'  boat,  after  a  two  mile  race,  the 
Emma's  bow  was  even  with  the  seat  on  which  Feath 
erweight  sat.  After  that  the  spectators  went  to  lunch, 
and  came  out  again  an  hour  afterwards  to  witness 
a  trial  of  speed  between  Frank  and  Bab.  The  latter 
sat  in  his  own  shell,  a  beautiful  little  affair  that  had 
more  than  once  carried  him  past  the  judges'  stand 
in  advance  of  all  the  best  oarsmen  at  the  Academy, 
and  Frank  was  to  pull  a  boat  that  Walter  provided 
for  him. 

Two  finer  specimens  of  health  and  strength  could 
not  have  been  found  in  that  crowd  of  boys  than 
these  two  competitors.  Bab's  record  was  a  clear 
one,  but  Frank  had  shown  by  his  recent  performances 
that  he  knew  how  to  handle  an  ear,  and  he  was  pro 
nounced  the  winner  before  the  race  commenced. 
The  result  was  just  what  the  majority  of  the  specta 
tors  expected.  Frank  took  the  lead  at  the  start, 
nnd  came  in  more  than  three  lengths  ahead.  The 
next  was  a  race  between  the  two  featherweights. 


132  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Fred  Craven  and  Archie  Winters,  which  ended  in 
another  victory  for  the  Sportsman's  Club  ;  for  al 
though  Archie  did  wonders,  seeing  that  he  had  not 
handled  an  oar  for  years,  Fred  easily  beat  him. 
Many  other  races  came  off  during  the  afternoon — 
one  between  Uncle  Dick  and  Mr.  Gay  lord  that  was 
loudly  applauded — and  when  the  company  separated 
at  night  "they  declared  that  the  day  had  been  most 
agreeably  spent. 

The  next  morning  the  boys  were  all  up  at  four 
o'clock  and  at  work  upon  the  yachts  ;  for  this  was 
the  day  set  for  the  picnic  on  Lost  Island,  in  which 
all  the  guests  were  to  participate.  The  whole  matter 
was  under  the  management  of  the  owners  of  the 
yachts,  who  were  to  act  as  captains,  their  fathers 
and  older  brothers  performing  the  duties  of  foremast 
hands.  The  fleet,  of  course,  was  under  the  command 
of  the  Commodore,  Walter  Gaylord.  Frank  met 
with  another  surprise  this  morning ;  for  as  he  was 
walking  on  the  jetty  in  company  with  Walter,  the 
latter  pointed  out  the  Three  Bells  and  asked  him  to 
take  command  of  her;  adding  that  he  had  detailed 
Nesbit,  Randolph  and  two  other  boys  to  act  as  his 
crew.  Frank  was  on  the  point  of  declining  the 
honor  :  but  seeing  the  alacrity  and  promptness  with 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  133 

which  the  other  boys  obeyed  the  orders  of  the  Com 
modore,  he  thought  better  of  it,  mustered  his  crew, 
and  went  to  work  to  get  the  little  vessel  in  readiness 
to  receive  her  load  of  guests.  One  by  one  the  yachts 
were  towed  alongside  the  jetty  by  a  skiff  manned  by 
two  negroes,  the  decks  were  holystoned,  the  sails 
hoisted,  the  cabins  open,  and  when  all  the  necessary 
preparations  had  been  made  for  the  voyage,  the 
young  sailors  went  to  breakfast.  When  they  re 
turned  they  were  accompanied  by  the  guests,  who 
without  any  delay  went  on  board  the  yachts  with 
their  baskets  of  provisions,  and  proceeded  to  make 
themselves  comfortable.  Frank's  passengers  were 
twelve  in  number,  and  among  them  were  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gaylord.  Just  as  the  order  was  given  to  cast 
off,  Uncle  Dick  came  over  the  side,  and  touching 
his  cap  to  Frank,  informed  him  that  he  had  the  honor 
to  report  himself  on  board — a  proceeding  that 
brought  a  peal  of  laughter  from  all  the  passengers, 
and  caused  the  young  captain  no  little  embarrass 
ment. 

It  was  understood  that  the  voyage  to  Lost  Island 
was  to  be  a  race,  and  that  it  was  to  begin  the 
moment  the  lines  were  let  go/"  When  the  passengers 
were  all  on  board,  Walter  walked  up  and  down  the 


134  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

jetty  to  make  sure  that  nothing  had  been  left 
undone,  and  hoisted  the  signal  to  fill  away.  A  very 
fair  start  was  made,  all  the  yachts  getting  the  wind 
at  about  the  same  moment :  but  the  Coquette  quickly 
drew  ahead,  and  close  behind  her  came  the  saury 
little  Sunshine,  covered  with  canvas  from  deck  to 
truck. 

"Good-bye,  Frank'!"  shouted  Bab,  as  his  vessel 
dashed  on,  leaving  the  Three  Bells  behind  ;  "  you 
beat  me  yesterday,  but  I'll  show  you  a  pretty  pair 
of  heels  to-day." 

"I  say,  Frank  !"  exclaimed  Featherweight,  who 
was  standing  beside  Archie  on  the  deck  of  the  Sun 
shine.  "  If  you  will  catch  this  line  we  will  tow 
you." 

The  run  to  the  island  was  made  in  a  little  less 
than  four  hours,  and  the  first  boat  to  enter  the  cove 
was  the  Three  Bells,  which  was  piloted  in  by  Nes- 
bit.  The  next  was  the  Sunshine,  the  third  was  the 
Banner,  and  Bab  came  in  near  the  last,  having 
learned  to  his  satisfaction  that  the  race  is  not  always 
to  the  swift,  and  that  skill  sometimes  wins  the  day 
where  speed  fails.  Eugene  (who,  during  the  voyage, 
assisted  his  brother  in  sailing  the  Banner,)  was  de 
lighted  with  the  victory  his  vessel  had  gained,  and 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  135 

complimented  Frank's  seamanship  in  no  measured 
terms.  And  Frank  was  proud  of  it,  too.  Although 
he  understood  the  theory  of  navigation,  he  had 
never  had  an  opportunity  to  reduce  it  to  practice; 
and  this  being  the  first  time  he  had  ever  laid  a 
course  by  the  compass,  he  was  not  a  little  elated  at 
his  success. 

A  picnic  party  could  not  possibly  have  enjoyed 
themselves  more  than  our  friends  did  on  this  occa 
sion.  There  was  a  multitude  of  exciting  associations 
connected  with  the  Cove,  and  the  Club  found  many 
interested  listeners — none  more  so  than  Frank  and 
Archie — to  the  stories  they  told  of  the  thrilling 
events  that  had  happened  there  but  a  few  days 
before.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  fleet 
was  again  under  way,  arid  at  ten  both  passengers 
and  crews  were  once  more  in  their  rooms  at  the 
mansion,  sleeping  soundly. 


136  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    VOYAGE    COMMENCED. 

rPHE  next  day  but  one  was  Uncle  Dick's  day. 
The  clerk  of  the  weather  was  still  good- 
natured,  and  a  little  after  sunrise,  a  long  procession 
of  carriages,  accompanied  by  a  goodly  number  of 
men  and  boys  on  horseback,  left  Mr.  Gaylord's 
grounds  and  moved  along  the  road  to  New  Orleans, 
to  witness  the  launching  of  the  vessel  in  which  the 
Club  were  to  begin  their  voyage  around  the  world. 
The  journey  was  accomplished  in  a  little  more  than 
three  hours,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the  procession  drew 
up  in  front  of  the  gates  of  the  ship-yard.  The 
ladies  got  out  of  their  carriages,  the  men  and  boys 
dismounted  from  their  horses,  and  leaving  them  in 
the  care  of  some  of  Mr.  Gaylord's  negroes,  followed 
Uncle  Dick  toward  the  vessel  which  was  the  first 
object  their  eyes  rested  upon  when  they  entered  the 
yard.  She  was  gayly  dressed  with  flags,  a  large 
force  of  men  was  at  work  in  the  wilderness  of  beams 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  137 

and  braces  by  which  she  was  supported,  and  there 
was  a  great  hammering  and  pounding  going  on. 
The  proprietor  of  the  yard  advanced  to  meet  the 
company,  and  conducted  them  up  the  long  gang-, 
plank  which  led  from  the  ground  to  the  vessel's  deck. 
Of  course  the  Club  and  their  young  friends  were 
the  first  to  board  her,  and  of  course,  too,  before 
five  minutes  passed  they  had  been  all  over  her — 
through  the  cabin,  galley,  forecastle  and  down  into 
the  hold,  peering  into  every  locker  they  found  on 
the  way — and  in  that  short  time  they  saw  enough 
of  the  new  craft  to  warrant  them  in  passing  judg 
ment  upon  her. 

"  She  is  just  splendid,  isn't  she?"  cried  Feather 
weight,  turning  to  Archie,  from  whom  he  was  now 
scarcely  ever  separated,  even  for  a  moment. 

"I  confess  that  I  am  not  seaman  enough  to  say," 
was  the  reply.  "  If  I  could  see  her  with  her  masts 
in  her  and  her  sails  spread,  I  could  tell  whether  or 
not  she  is  handsome." 

"  0,  she  must  be ;  she  can't  help  it.  She  was 
built  by  Uncle  Dick,  you  know.  Didn't  you  notice 
how  sharp  her  bow  is,  and  what  a  bearing  she  has  ? 
I'll  warrant  she's  a  trotter.  I  declare,"  he  added, 
seating  himself  on  a  nail-keg  in  the  forecastle  and 


138  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

looking  about  him  with  great  interest ;  "  I  can 
hardly  realize  that  we  are  to  spend  so  many  months 
on  board  this  little  craft,  and  that  she  is  to  take  us 
out  of  sight  of  land,  and  thousands  of  miles  from 
our  homes.  I  wonder  if  she  will  meet  any  of  those 
terrific  storms  I  have  heard  Uncle  Dick  tell  about, 
and  if  she  will  bring  us  safely  back  !" 

The  boys  were  silent  for  a  few  moments  after 
this,  Archie  wondering  if  he  was  destined  to  make 
one  of  the  happy  company  of  passengers,  and 
Featherweight  following  out  the  train  of  reflection 
that  had  been  aroused  in  his  mind  by  his  last 
question.  What  if  the  two  friends  had  been  able 
to  look  forward  to  a  scene  that  was  presented  to 
their  gaze  a  few  months  later — a  little  topsail 
schooner,  called  the  Stranger,  drifting  unmanageable 
in  the  trough  of  an  angry  sea,  the  waves  making 
a  clean  breach  over  her,  the  sails  blown  from  the 
bolt-ropes,  a  gloomy  and  inhospitable  island  sur 
rounded  by  coral  reefs  looming  close  up  under  her 
lee,  the  beach  lined  with  a  crowd  of  savage  Malays, 
who  brandished  their  weapons,  shouted  and  danced, 
and  waited  impatiently  for  her  to  strike  !  It  is  pos 
sible  that,  eager  arid  enthusiastic  as  they  were,  the 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  139 

prospect  of  such  a  termination  to  their  cruise  would 
have  dampened  their  ardor. 

For  an  hour  the  hammering  and  pounding  among 
the  beams  and  braces  below  was  kept  up  by  the 
workmen,  and  for  the  same  length  of  time  the  Club, 
for  want  of  something  better  to  do,  hurried  back  and 
forth  through  the  vessel,  finding,  with  every  journey 
they  made,  something  new  to  examine  and  wonder 
at.  Finally  the  noise  of  the  workmen  ceased,  and 
a  hoarse  voice  shouting  through  the  hatchway  "All 
hands  on  deck  !"  told  those  below  that  the  event  of 
the  day  was  about  to  come  off.  When  the  boys 
obeyed  the  call  they  found  the  guests  collected  in  a 
group  in  the  waist,  and  a  band  of  musicians  standing 
on  the  quarter-deck  with  their  instruments  in  their 
hands.  The  proprietor  of  the  yard  was  leaning  over 
the  rail,  keeping  one  eye  on  the  men  below,  and  the 
other  on  Uncle  Dick.  That  gentleman  stood  in  the 
bow  with  one  arm  supporting  Featherweight's  sister 
Dora,  who  held  in  her  hands  a  bottle  filled  with 
wine. 

"All  ready,  Captain  !"  said  the  ship-builder,  at 
length. 

"  Let  her  go  then  !"  replied  Uncle  Dick.  "  Play 
up,  musicians  !" 


140  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

The  ship-builder  raised  his  hand,  the  timid  ones 
among  the  guests  caught  at  whatever  was  within 
their  reach,  as  if  preparing  for  a  shock  of  some  kind, 
the  band  struck  up  a  lively  tune,  and  with  a  quiver 
and  ajar  the  vessel  slid  smoothly  down  the  ways  into 
the  river.  The  moment  she  was  fairly  afloat  Dora 
Craven  broke  the  bottle  of  wine  over  her  bow,  and 
christened  her  the  "Stranger."  Then  the  crowd 
on  the  levee  cheered  and  nourished  their  hats,  the 
guests  cheered  in  return  and  waved  their  handker 
chiefs,  and  a  tug  which  was  waiting  in  the  river  to 
receive  the  schooner  took  charge  of  her,  and  towed 
her  to  the  floating  dock,  beside  which  she  was  to 
lie  until  completed  and  ready  for  her  voyage.  After 
that  refreshments  were  served  up  in  the  cabin,  and 
in  an  hour  more  the  guests  were  on  their  way  back 
to  the  Gaylord  mansion. 

It  was  singular  what  a  change  this  Monday's  events 
made  in  the  feelings  of  the  Club.  They  rode,  hunted, 
raced  their  boats  and  laid  numerous  plans  for  the 
amusement  of  themselves  and  their  friends,  but  they 
did  not  seem  to  enter  into  the  sport  with  their  usual 
interest.  What  were  foxes,  deer,  wild  turkeys  and 
even  panthers  to  boys  who  expected  some  day  to 
tramp  through  the  jungles  of  India  in  search  of  lions. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  141 

tigers  and  elephants  ?    Even  their  yachts  fell  in  their 
estimation,  and  they  did  not  care  to  talk  about  any 
thing  smaller  than  a  two-hundred-ton  topsail  schooner. 
The  winter  storms  which  sprung  up  occasionally  and 
lashed  the  bay  into  fury,  were,  to  quote  from  the 
Club,  "  merely  sailing  winds — just  enough  to  try  a 
fellow's  pluck  and  skill ;"  and  they  recklessly  braved 
them,  and  strained  their  little  vessels,  and  carried 
away  their  topmasts,  and  pretended  to  think  nothing 
of  it.     Their  favorite  books  now  were  tales  of  travel 
and  adventure  in  the  countries  they  expected  to  visit. 
They  talked   learnedly    about  tsetse   (a   species   of 
poisonous  fly  which  infests  certain  portions  of  Africa), 
harrisbucks,  hartebeests  and   Kaffirs,  and    Eugene 
confidently  declared  that  when  they  reached  Natal, 
he  could,  take  charge  of  the  expedition  and  conduct 
it  to  Lake  Ngami  or  the  falls  of  the  Zambesi  without 
a  guide.     Science,  two,  as  well  as  geography  and 
natural  history  came  in  for  a  share  of  their  atten 
tion.     Every    day    an    interested    and    enthusiastic 
party  under  charge  of  Archie  Winters,  might  have 
been  seen  with  an  old  engineer's  transit  which  they 
had  found  in  the  garret,  busily  engaged  in  measur 
ing  the  distances  across  the  bay  at  different  points, 
and    calculating    the    height    of   all   the    hills    and 


142  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

trees  in  the  neighborhood ;  while  the  rest  of  the 
Club  visited  the  cabin  at  every  opportunity,  and 
spent  an  hour  or  two  with  Uncle  Dick  in  brushing 
up  their  navigation. 

The  week  passed  in  this  way,  New  Year's  day 
came  and  went,  and  the  guests  began  to  separate  to 
their  own  homes.  Among  the  last  to  take  their 
leave  were  George,  Frank  and  Archie,  the  cousins 
being  obliged  to  promise  over  and  over  again  that 
they  would  correspond  regularly  with  their  new 
friends,  and  that  they  would  join  them  in  their  pro 
posed  excursion,  if  they  could  by  any  possibility 
make  arrangements  to  do  so.  In  due  time  they  ar 
rived  at  George's  home,  and  Frank  was  handed  a  let 
ter,  which  proved  to  be  an  answer  to  the  one  he  had 
written  to  Archie's  father.  Mr.  Winters  had  but 
little  to  say  concerning  the  subject  nearest  the  boys' 
hearts,  and  that  was :  u  Come  home  when  you  have 
finished  your  visit,  and  we  will  talk  the  matter 
over." 

"  That's  enough  for  me,"  exclaimed  Archie, 
gleefully.  "We  are  going,  Frank,  you  may  depend 
upon  it.  Do  you  know  that  the  pleasantest  part  of 
the  whole  journey  to  me,  would  be  the  visit  to  Cali 
fornia  and  a  ride  across  the  plains?  Wouldn't  it 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  143 

be  glorious  if  we  could  travel  over  our  old  hunting- 
grounds  again — if  we  could  see  the  'old  bear's  hole,' 
the  ruins  of  Fort  Stockton,  and  visit  the  valley  in 
which  the  Indian  village  stood?" 

u  That  would  be  very  pleasant,"  replied  Frank; 
"  but  I  would  much  rather  see  Dick  Lewis  and  old 
Bob  Kelly." 

According  to  promise  the  cousins  spent  a  week 
at  the  General's  and  then  started  for  home.  George, 
who  seemed  very  unwilling  to  part  from  them,  ac 
companied  them  as  far  as  Memphis,  and  from  that 
point  the  boys  continued  their  journey  alone. 
Archie,  as  before,  was  sober  and  thoughtful,  and  for 
a  time  felt  as  though  he  were  leaving  behind  him 
everything  on  earth  that  was  worth  living  for.  Even 
the  voyage  around  the  world  lost  all  interest  for  him. 
But  somebody  had  promised  to  answer  all  the  letters 
he  could  find  time  to  write,  and  the  remembrance 
of  this  fact  finally  restored  him  to  his  usual  spirits. 

The  cousins  had  much  to  talk  about  when  they 
reached  home,  but  so  eager  were  they  to  have  the 
question  of  the  cruise  with  Uncle  Dick  and  the  Club 
decided,  that  the  matter  was  brought  up  for  discus 
sion  on  the  same  evening  of  their  arrival.  Frank, 
who  did  all  the  talking,  must  have  proved  an  able 


144  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

advocate,  for  at  the  end  of  an  hour  Archie  jumped 
from  his  chair  with  a  loud  hurrah,  and  rushing 
frantically  into  the  study  seized  a  pet),  and  dashed 
off  a  few  hurried  lines  to  Featherweight,  telling  him 
that  he  and  his  cousin  had  decided  to  accompany 
the  Club  in  their  wanderings,  and  that, they  would 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  leave  Lawrence  as 
soon  as  they  received  word  that  the  Stranger  was 
ready  to  sail.  Frank,  although  equally  delighted 
with  the  result  of  the  interview,  took  matters  more 
coolly  ;  but  still  he  did  not  go  to  sleep  until  he  had 
conveyed  the  same  information  to  his  old  messmate, 
George  Le  Dell. 

After  that  letters  passed  rapidly  between  Lawrence 
and  Bellville,  and  the  cottage  was  the  scene  of  great 
bustle  and  preparation.  When  their  trunks  had  been 
packed  with  everything  needful  for  the  journey,  the 
cousins  settled  down  into  the  dull  routine  of  every-day 
life,  and  waited  as  patiently  as  they  could  for  the 
word  to  start.  We  ought  to  say,  however,  that  the 
patience  was  all  exhibited  by  Frank.  He  wrote 
and  studied  as  usual,  while  Archie  made  flying  trips 
from  the  cottage  to  the  post-office  every  night  and 
morning,  and  filled  up  the  rest  of  the  time  by  wan 
dering  about  the  house  and  grounds  as  ui.easy  as  a 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  145 

fish  oat  of  water.  The  long-expected  letter  came 
at  last,  and  ten  days  afterward  Frank  and  Archie 
landed  from  a  steamer  at  New  Orleans,  and  found 
George  Le  Dell  waiting  for  them.  Then  followed 
another  tedious  ride  in  the  rickety  stage-coach,  and 
early  the  next  morning  our  heroes  were  once  more 
together.  Walter  took  charge  of  Frank  and  George, 
while  Archie  was  seized  by  Eugene  and  Feather 
weight  directly  he  touched  the  ground. 

"  Here  we  are  again  !"  exclaimed  Eugene,  almost 
beside  himself  with  delight.  "  Breakfast  is  waiting, 
but  you  are  not  hungry,  are  you,  Archie?" 

"  No,"  replied  the  latter,  who  knew  by  the  man 
ner  in  which  Eugene  spoke  and  the  eager  look  in 
his  face,  that  he  had  something  of  great  importance 
to  communicate,  "  I  couldn't  eat  a  mouthful  if  I 
should  try." 

"  I  thought  not,"  chimed  in  Featherweight. 
"  Come  with  us.  You  know  you  told  me  on  the 
day  the  Stranger  was  launched,"  he  added,  as  he 
and  Eugene  took  Archie's  arm  and  led  him  down 

o 

the  carriage-way  toward    the  jetty,   "  that    if  you 
could  see  her  in  the  water,  you  would  be  able  tc 
pass  judgment  upon  her.     Well,  look  there  !" 
Archie    looked,  and    when   his    eye  caught    the 
10 


146  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

object  pointed  out  to  him,  he  did  not  wonder  that 
his  friends  were  enthusiastic.  He  began  to  feel 
that  way  himself.  The  Stranger  lay  at  her  anchor 
age  in  front  of  the  jetty,  and  although  Archie  did 
not  pretend  to  know  much  about  a  vessel,  he  was 
sailor  enough  to  see  many  fine  points  about  her. 

"  We've  made  half  a  dozen  trial  trips  in  her," 
said  Eugene,  "  and  she  sails  just  as  well  as  she  looks. 
All  her  stores  are  aboard,  to  the  last  biscuit  and 
quart  of  water." 

"When  do  we  start?"  asked  Archie. 

"  Have  you  and  Frank  got  everything  you  want  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Then  we'll  not  be  here  forty-eight  hours  longer. 
Now  that  everything  is  ready,  Uncle  Dick  is  as 
anxious  to  be  off  as  we  boys  are." 

"  Hurrah  !"  shouted  Archie. 

The  three  friends  clambered  down  into  a  skiff 
that  lay  alongside  the  jetty,  and  a  few  strokes  of  the 
oars  brought  them  to  the  schooner.  Archie  was 
delighted  with  her.  She  was  as  neat  and  trim  as  a 
little  man-of-war,  and  indeed  she  looked  like  one. 
The  crew  had  just  finished  their  morning's  work, 
and  were  seated  around  their  mess-chest  in  the  fore 
castle  eating  their  breakfast.  There  were  fifteen 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  147 

of  them — broad-shouldered,  weather-beaten  fellows, 
able  seamen  every  one  of  them,  and  they  wore  the 
uniform  of  the  United  States  navy.  Two  men 
dressed  in  blue,  were  standing  on  the  quarter-deck 
conversing.  They  came  up  to  welcome  the  boys  as 
they  clambered  over  the  side,  and  were  introduced 
to  Archie  as  the  first  and  second  mates.  They  ac 
companied  the  three  friends  over  the  vessel,  showing 
the  new-comer  all  there  was  to  be  seen,  and  explain 
ing  everything  he  did  not  understand.  The  first 
objects  that  took  Archie's  eye  were  the  guns  with 
which  the  schooner  was  provided.  She  mounted 
three  of  them — a  twenty-four  pounder  on  her  fore 
castle,  another  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  a  Long 
Tom,  in  the  shape  of  a  thirty-pounder  Parrott, 
amidships.  She  was  also  supplied  with  an  abundance 
of  pikes,  cutlasses,  pistols  and  muskets,  which  were 
stowed  away  in  brackets  on  the  berth-deck,  just  as 
Archie  had  seen  them  on  board  the  Boxer. 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  these  guns  ?"  he 
asked.  "  Do  you  expect  to  run  by  any  more  Span 
ish  forts  ?" 

"  Not  if  we  can  help  it,"  answered  Eugene  ;  "  but 
there's  no  telling  what  sort  of  company  we  may  fall 
in  with  before  our  cruise  is  ended.  Another  thing. 


148  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

we  are  going  in  style,  you  know,  and  we  may  want 
to  fire  salutes." 

It  was  ten  o'clock  by  the  time  the  visitor  had 
been  shown  over  the  vessel,  and  then  Eugene  thought 
it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  go  to  breakfast.  Archie 
seated  himself  at  the  table,  but  he  had  no  appetite. 
He  was  impatient  to  take  possession  of  the  neat  little 
stateroom  which  he  and  Featherweight  were  to  oc 
cupy  in  company,  and  to  see  the  Stranger  bounding 
over  the  blue  water  with  all  her  canvas  spread. 
Nor  was  he  obliged  to  wait  long.  His  luggage  and 
Frank's  was  taken  on  board  the  vessel  that  very 
day,  and  when  the  Club  and  their  friends  separated 
at  bed-time,  they  told  one  another  that  that  was 
their  last  night  ashore  until  they  arrived  in  San 
Francisco. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning  the  Club  had 
everyone  in  the  house  astir,  and  as  soon  as  breakfast 
was  despatched,  the  dingy  and  the  captain's  gig 
came  ashore  to  convey  the  happy  youngsters  and 
the  parents  of  the  Club  on  board  the  schooner. 
Everything  was  ready  for  the  start,  the  sails  being 
hoisted  and  the  anchor  hove  to  a  short  stay,  and  in 
ten  minutes  more  the  Stranger  was  flying  toward 
the  Gulf,  and  the  boys  were  taking  a  last  lingering 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  149 

look  at  the  old  mansion  under  whose  roof  they  had 
passed  so  many  happy  hours,  and  which  they  were 
now  leaving  behind,  perhaps  for  ever.  When  they 
arrived  within  sight  of  the  village,  the  tug  John 
Basset  steamed  out  from  the  wharf,  and  coming 
alongside  the  schooner,  deposited  upon  her  deck  a 
band  of  musicians  and  a  gay  party  of  people,  young 
and  old,  who  had  been  invited  to  see  the  boys  off. 
They  accompanied  the  schooner  into  the  Gulf,  and 
when  they  had  made  about  twenty  miles  from  shore, 
the  farewells  were  said,  the  guests  returned  on  board 
the  steamer,  and  amid  enlivening  strains  of  music 
from  the  band,  the  cheering  of  the  crews,  the  wav 
ing  of  handkerchiefs  and  the  dipping  of  flags,  the 
two  vessels  separated — one  to  return  to  the  village 
and  the  other  to  begin  her  lonely  voyage. 


150  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SUSPICIOUS    VISITORS. 


T~F  time  would  allow,  we  might  describe  many 
interesting,  and  at  least  one  thrilling  event  that 
occurred  during  the  voyage  to  San  Francisco.  We 
might  tell  of  the  incidents  that  happened  at  Port 
Platte,  where  the  Club  (when  we  speak  of  the  Club 
hereafter  we  include  all  our  heroes)  remained  two 
days  visiting  the  Spanish  fort,  the  creek  where  the 
Banner  had  been  hidden,  the  cove  which  had  been 
the  scene  of  the  adventure  with  the  frigate,  and 
many  other  places  about  the  village  which  were 
associated  in  their  minds  with  some  exciting  event 
connected  with  their  late  cruise.  We  might  relate 
the  particulars  of  a  laughable  incident  that  hap 
pened  a  few  days  afterwards — how  one  morning  a 
hoarse  voice,  which  seemed  to  come  from  the  depths 
of  the  ocean,  hailed  the  schooner,  and  a  sailor 
dressed  to  represent  old  Neptune,  and  dripping  with 
salt  water  as  if  he  had  just  arisen  from  the  sea, 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  151 

came  over  the  side  and  shaved  the  darkey  cook,  who 
had  never  before  "crossed  the  line,"  with  a  piece 
of  rusty  iron  hoop,  and  made  him  swallow  a  pill 
of  tar  as  large  as  the  end  of  one's  thumb.  This 
novel  and  disagreeable  method  of  initiating  a  "  green 
hand,"  used  to  be  very  common  among  sailors  in 
the  olden  time,  but  most  shipmasters  have  put  a 
stop  to  it,  on  account  of  the  hard  feelings  it  some 
times  engenders  among  the  crew.  The  Club  had 
never  witnessed  the  ceremony,  and  that  was  the 
reason  Uncle  Dick  permitted  it. 

Not  long  after  this  happened  the  thrilling  scene 
of  which  we  have  spoken.  One  bright  day,  while 
the  Stranger  was  scudding  along  under  all  the 
canvas  she  could  carry,  the  startling  cry  arose  from 
the  forecastle,  "Man  overboard!"  In  an  instant 
Frank,  without  stopping  to  see  who  the  man  was,  or 
wasting  time  in  asking  how  the  accident  happened, 
caught  up  a  small  life-buoy  that  was  near  at  hand, 
and  rushed  to  the  side.  Seeing  somebody's  head 
rising  above  the  waves  a  short  distance  astern,  he 
threw  the  buoy  toward  it  with  all  his  strength,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  swimmer,  after  a  few 
rapid  strokes,  seize  the  ropes  and  hold  fast  to  them. 

"I  am  all  right  !"  he  shouted,  shaking  the  water 


152  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

from  his  face,  and  waving  his  hand  to  the  terror- 
stricken  boys  who  were  crowded  about  the  man  at 
the  wheel. 

u  Eugene  !"  was  all  the  Club  could  say. 

Uncle  Dick  heard  the  cry,  and  came  up  the  com 
panion-ladder  in  two  jumps.  His  face  was  whiter 
than  it  had  ever  been  in  the  presence  of  any  danger 
that  threatened  himself,  but  he  issued  his  orders 
with  his  usual  calmness  and  deliberation.  The 
schooner  came  quickly  about,  a  boat  manned  by  a 
sturdy  crew  dropped  into  the  water,  and  in  half  an 
hour  more  the  rescued  boy,  dressed  in  a  dry  suit, 
was  standing  among  his  fellows  talking  over  his 
escape  with  the  same  indifference  he  would  have 
exhibited,  had  the  subject  of  the  conversation  been 
a  hunting  or  fishing  excursion.  Frank's  presence  of 
mind  had  saved  him,  and  from  that  hour  our  old  hero 
took  a  higher  stand  than  ever  in  the  estimation  of 
the  Club. 

After  that  came  the  passage  around  Cape  Horn, 
during  which  the  boys  saw  higher  waves  and  felt 
harder  winds  than  they  had  ever  dreamed  of;  then 
a  run  of  a  hundred  miles  or  more  through  fields 
of  ice  which  threatened  every  instant  to  crush 
in  the  sides  of  their  frail  craft;  but  under  Uncle 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  153 

Dick's  skilful  management  the  Stranger  came  safely 
through  all  these  dangers,  and  finally  dropped  her 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco.  By  this 
time  the  Club  had  seen  quite  enough  of  salt  water 
for  awhile,  and  were  fierce  and  eager  for  the  new 
sights  and  new  adventures  that  awaited  them  on 
shore.  Leaving  the  schooner  in  the  harbor  under 
charge  of  the  first  mate,  they  set  out  on  their  wan 
derings.  They  travelled  through  the  Yo  Semite, 
took  a  good  look  at  the  big  trees,  spent  a  week  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  and  so  pleased  were  they  with  all 
they  saw,  and  so  delighted  with  the  wild  life  they 
were  leading,  that,  the  matter  being  put  to  a  vote, 
it  was  unanimously  agreed  to  extend  their  journey 
across  the  mountains.  Uncle  Dick,  who  was  quite 
as  eager  for  the  fun  as  the  youngest  of  them,  pur 
chased  a  wagon  and  a  span  of  mules  ;  each  boy 
provided  himself  with  a  horse,  and  whatever  else  he 
thought  he  might  stand  in  need  of;  and  when  their 

O  o  7 

arrangements  were  all  completed,  they  took  the  old 
emigrant  road  for  Bridger's  Pass. 

For  two  weeks  the  little  cavalcade  pursued  its 
journey  without  meeting  with  any  adventures.  The 
change  from  their  cramped  quarters  on  board  the 
schooner,  to  the  freedom  of  the  mountains,  was  a 


154  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

most  agreeable  one,  and  the  Club  were  in  the  best 
of  spirits.  There  seemed  to  be  no  prospect  that 
they  would  ever  grow  tired  of  their  new  mode  of 
life.  On  the  contrary,  had  the  matter  been  brought 
up  for  discussion,  at  least  half  the  boys  would  have 
been  in  favor  of  abandoning  the  idea  of  a  voyage 
around  the  world,  and  of  spending  the  eighteen 
months  or  two  years  they  expected  to  be  gone  on  the 
prairie.  Previous  to  their  arrival  at  Salt  Lake  City 
they  had  travelled  altogether  by  stage-coach  ;  but 
now  that  they  had  their  own  horses  and  wagon 
they  were  able  to  prosecute  their  journey  as  rapidly 
or  as  leisurely  as  their  inclination  or  convenience 
dictated.  They  could  take  to  the  road,  or  spend 
the  day  in  hunting  and  visiting  places  of  interest 
along  their  route.  They  camped  out  every  night, 
even  when  there  was  a  town  and  a  good  hotel  close 
by,  depended  principally  upon  their  rifles  to  supply 
their  table,  and  soon  began  to  consider  themselves 
accomplished  backwoodsmen.  Indeed,  before  they 
had  left  Salt  Lake  City  many  days'  journey 
behind  them,  they  began  to  look  and  act  as  though 
they  had  never  been  accustomed  to  civilized  life. 
They  were  all  dressed  in  buckskin  except  Walter, 
who  wore  a  military-looking  suit  of  gray  jeans, 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  155 

high-top  boots  and  a  slouch  hat.  His  horse  was 
a  stylish,  high-stepping  animal,  and  as  he  had  pur 
chased  an  army  bridle  and  saddle — the  latter  pro 
vided  with  a  pair  of  bear-skin  holsters  in  which  he 
carried  his  revolvers — he  might  easily  have  been 
mistaken  for  a  young  cavalry  lieutenant.  With  the 
exception  of  Frank  and  Archie,  who  carried  their 
trusty  Maynards,  the  company  were  all  armed  with 
Henry  rifles. 

"I  say,  Frank,  where  are  those  grizzlies  you 
promised  to  show  us  ?"  demanded  Featherweight  one 
day,  after  they  had  been  travelling  through  the 
mountains  for  about  two  weeks.  u  I  have  become  a 
passably  good  marksman  with  this  new  shooting- 
iron,  and  I  should  like  to  draw  a  bead  on  one." 

"  If  you  consult  the  wishes  of  the  rest  of  us,  you 
will  waste  no  valuable  time  in  looking  for  grizzlies," 
said  Bab.  "I,  for  one,  don't  want  to  see  any. 
Show  us  the  '  old  bear's  hole'  where  you  smoked 
out  that  panther,  and  Adam  Brent  had  his  adventure 
with  Black  Bill  and  his  party." 

"  Now  just  listen  to  me  a  minute  and  I'll  tell  you 
what's  a  fact,"  said  Perk.  "I'd  rather  see  the 
brook  in  which  you  caught  those  fine  trout  you  were 
telling  us  about.  I  would  rather  try  my  skill  on 


156  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

them  than  grizzly  bears.  I've  got  flies,  lines  and 
hooks  in  abundance." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  that  gully  across  which  you 
jumped  when  you  had  the  fight  with  the  Black  Fox," 
observed  George. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  fellows,  that  I  am  not  woods 
man  enough  to  lead  you  to  a  single  one  of  the  local 
ities  you  have  mentioned,"  replied  Frank.  "  If  we 
should  be  lucky  enough  to  fall  in  with  Dick  Lewis 
or  Bob  Kelly,  they  would  take  you  anywhere  you 
want  to  go." 

ic  I  wish  they  were  here,"  said  Walter.  "I'd 
rather  see  a  live  trapper  than  anything  else." 

Walter's  wish  was  gratified  before  many  hours 
had  passed — that  very  night,  in  fact — and  he  was 
destined  during  the  next  few  days  to  see  more  of 
the  class  of  men  he  most  wished  to  meet,  than  was 
agreeable  to  him.  This  was  the  way  it  came  about. 

At  sunset  they  made  their  camp  in  a  little  grove 
of  cotton-wood  trees  at  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  full  view  of  the  prairie. 
They  were  now  almost  in  the  heart  of  the  western 
wilds,  and  had  not  seen  a  human  face,  except  those 
of  their  own  party,  for  more  than  a  week.  An 
exploit  they  had  that  day  performed,  had  put  them 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  157 

in  the  best  of  humor.  After  the  hardest  kind  of 
stalking  over  the  roughest  ground  imaginable,  they 
had  succeeded  in  getting  within  gunshot  of,  and 
almost  surrounding  a  flock  of  bighorns.  Every  one 
of  the  party,  except  Uncle  Dick,  who  remained  with 
the  wagon,  had  a  pull  at  them,  arid  together  they 
bagged  three  of  the  finest  of  the  flock.  It  was  hard 
to  tell  whose  bullets  did  the  work,  as  every  one  of 
the  stricken  animals  had  run  a  hundred  yards  or 
more  before  falling  ;  but  each  of  the  boys  laughingly 
insisted  that  he  was  one  of  the  lucky  ones,  and -was 
happy  accordingly.  The  preparations  for  the  night 
were  all  completed,  supper  had  been  disposed  of, 
and  the  boys  lay  around  the  fire  in  various  attitudes, 
listening  to  Uncle  Dick,  who  was  relating  one  of  his 
interesting  tales  of  the  sea,  when  they  were  sudden 
ly  startled  by  the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  road. 
The  interruption  was  so  sudden  and  unlocked  for 
that  it  created  a  great  commotion  and  not  a  lit.tle 
alarm  in  the  camp.  Uncle  Dick  brought  his  story 
to  a  close  and  some  of  the  old  members  of  the  Club, 
in  order  to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency,  jumped 
to  their  feet  and  took  their  rifles  down  from  the 
branches  on  which  they  bad  hung  them.  Their  first 
thought  was  of  hostile  Indians.  They  had  heard 


158  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

from  those  they  met  along  the  road  that  there  were 
rumors  of  a  general  uprising  of  the  savages,  and 
some  of  the  emigrants  said  that  they  had  been  ad 
vised  by  the  officers  of  the  different  forts  to  turn 
back  in  order  to  avoid  trouble.  But  others  had 
contradicted  the  report,  and  made  light  of  the 
matter;  so  Uncle  Dick  arid  his  party  had  kept  on, 
and  perhaps  had  run  directly  into  danger.  Nearer 
and  nearer  came  the  sound  of  the  hoofs,  and  pre 
sently  two  horsemen  galloped  suddenly  around  the 
Jbase  of  the  hill  behind  which  the  fire  was  built,  and 
pulling  up  their  horses  with  a  jerk,  gazed  in  astonish 
ment  at  the  scene  unexpecedly  presented  to  their 
view.  The  boys  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief,  and 
replaced  their  rifles  on  the  branches  from  which  they 
had  taken  them.  The  new-comers  were  white  men. 
Walter  had  his  wish  now.  Here  were  two  trap 
pers  fairly  before  him,  and  he  thought  they  were 
splendid  specimens  of  their  class.  They  were  power 
ful-looking  men,  dressed  in  buckskin  from  head  to 
foot,  and  were  armed  with  long,  heavy  rifles,  which 
they  carried  across  the  horns  of  their  saddles,  and 
bowie-knives,  which  were  thrust  into  their  belts. 
There  were  two  things,  however,  which  Walter 
thought  they  ought  to  have,  that  he  looked  for  in 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  159 

vain.  He  had  never  yet  read  of  a  trapper  who  did 
not  have  a  coonskin  cap  on  his  head,  with  the  tail 
hanging  down  behind  for  a  plume,  and  an  Indian 
tomahawk  stowed  away  somewhere  about  his  person. 
These  men  had  neither  ;  but  after  all  they  looked 
just  as  he  thought  trappers  ought  to  look. 

"How  do,  strangers  !"  said  one  of  the  intruders, 
as  soon  as  he  had  somewhat  recovered  himself. 

"Good-evening,"  replied  Uncle  Dick.  "Will 
you  alight  and  sit  by  our  fire  ?" 

The  men  were  not  as  prompt  in  responding  to 
this  invitation  as  the  boys  had  hoped  they  would  be. 
They  wanted  them  to  spend  the  night  in  their 
camp.  They  wanted  to  get  close  to  them — to  take 
hold  of  them.  "If  the  men  belonged  on  the  prairie — 
and  their  dress  and  language  indicated  that  they  did 
— they  must  have  seen  a  world  of  excitement  and 
adventure,  and  could  tell  tales  of  fights  and  escapes 
that  would  make  one's  hair  stand  on  end.  The  boys 
wanted  to  shake  the  hands  that  had  perhaps  closed  in 
the  death-grapple  with  more  than  one  Indian,  and 
examine  the  rifles  that  had  doubtless  bowled  over 
scores  of  grizzly  bears  in  the  mountains.  But  for  a 
time  they  were  afraid  that  the  men  did  not  want 
them  to  become  more  intimately  acquainted.  Their 


160  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

actions  indicated  that  they  were  suspicious  of  some 
thing. 

"  Whar  mought  you  be  a  travellin'  to.  strangers  ?" 
asked  the  one  who  had  already  spoken. 

" Nowhere  in  particular,"  replied  Uncle  Dick. 
"  We  have  a  roving  commission." 

"  Which  ?"  exclaimed  the  trapper,  who  did  not 
understand  the  old  sailor's  nautical  phrase. 

"  I  mean  that  we  are  going  wherever  our  fancy 
leads  us." 

"  You  be  !  Then  I  reckon  you're  soldiers  out  on 
a  scout,  haint  you?" 

"  No,  indeed.  We  are  citizens  of  the  States, 
and  we  came  out  here  to  hunt  and  see  the  country. 
If  you  will  get  down  we  will  give  you  a  good 
supper." 

To  the  great  delight  of  the  Club,  the  men  no 
longer  hesitated  to  accept  the  invitation.  They  dis 
mounted  at  once,  and  while  they  were  removing 
their  saddles,  and  hobbling  their  horses  so  that  they 
might  graze  with  the  others  which  were  picketed  on 
the  prairie,  the  boys  bustled  about  to  prepare  a 
supper  for  them.  One  brought  out  the  coffee-pot ; 
another  hurried  off  to  the  stream  that  flowed  close 
by  to  fill  the  camp-kettle  ;  a  third  produced  the 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  161 

cornbread  and  dishes  ;  and  Walter  and  Frank  went 
to  cut  a  steak  from  one  of  the  big-horns.  The 
former  noticed  that  his  friend  was  not  very  favor 
ably  impressed  with  their  visitors — at  least  he  did 
not  seem  to  be  as  glad  to  have  them  in  the  camp  as 
the  rest  of  the  boys  were,  and  Walter  supposed  that 
the  reason  was  because  he  had  seen  so  many  trap 
pers  that  he  did  not  care  to  see  any  more.  But  in 
this  he  was  mistaken.  Frank  had  some  weighty 
reasons  for  wishing  that  the  men  had  never  come 
near  them,  and  they  would  have  astonished  his 
friend  could  he  have  known  what  they  were. 

"  Well,  Walter,"  said  he  ;  "  there  are  a  couple 
of  trappers — the  first  you  have  ever  seen.  What 
do  you  think  of  them  ?" 

"  I  haven't  had  a  chance  to  take  a  good  look  at 
them  yet,  but  I  intend  to  do  so  as  soon  as  I  go  back 
to  the  fire.  What's  your  opinion  ?" 

"I  don't  know  that  I  have  any  to  give  you," 
replied  Frank.  "  But  I  have  a  most  decided  opinion 
to  express  to  your  uncle  at  the  very  first  oppor 
tunity,"  he  added,  mentally. 

"  They  look  rather  rough,  don't  they?" 

"  You  can't  expect  men  who  spend  their  lives  out 
of  doors,  having  all  sorts  of  weather,  to  look  other- 


162  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

wise.     But  I  have  known  many  a  kind  heart  to  beat 
under  a  tattered  buckskin  hunting-shirt." 

When  the  boys  had  cut  all  the  steaks  they  thought 
their  visitors  could  comfortably  dispose  of,  they  went 
back  to  the  fire.     Walter  laid  them  on  the  coals  and 
turned  to  take  a  good  survey  of  the  men.     After  a 
single  glance  he  told  himself  that  if  they  were  fail- 
specimens  of  backwoodsmen,  he  had  no  desire  to  meet 
any  more  of  them.     Professional  hunters  and  trap 
pers  fell   a   long   way   in    his   estimation  directly; 
and  notwithstanding  the  many  stories  which  Frank 
and  Archie  had  related  to  him  of  the  fidelity  and 
integrity  of  Dick  Lewis  and  Bob  Kelly,  he  declared 
mentally  that  if  those  noted  trappers  looked  like 
these  men,  he  did  not  see  how  any  one  could  admire 
them  or  dare  to  trust  himself  alone  in  the  moun 
tains  with  them.     He  did  not  believe  that  men  could 
be  as  untidy  as  these  visitors  were  in   dress   and 
person    arid   remain  long   honest.     Their    suits  of 
buckskin  were  ragged,  and  dingy   with   long  wear 
and  hard  service.     Their  hands  and  faces  looked  as 
though  they  had  never  seen  water,  and  their  hail 
and    whiskers  had    certainly   never  been  made  ac 
quainted   with    a  comb.     Walter  did  not  want  t< 
shake  hands  with  them  now,  and  neither  did  he  can 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  163 

how  many  Indians  and  grizzly  bears  they  had  rubbed 
out. 

And  now  something  happened  that  caused  the  boy 
not  a  little  astonishment.  When  he  turned  to  look 
at  the  men  after  placing  the  meat  on  the  coals,  he 
found  that  they  were  both  regarding  him  very 
sharply.  As  soon  as  they  got  a  fair  view  of  his  face 
they  started  as  if  they  had  seen  something  frightful, 
placed  one  hand  behind  them  on  the  ground  in 
readiness  to  spring  to  their  feet,  and  laying  the 
other  on  the  handle  of  their  knives,  waited  as  if 
expecting  him  to  address  them.  But  Walter  had 
nothing  to  say.  Rendered  a  little  uneasy  by  their 
actions,  he  drew  a  step  or  two  nearer  his  companions, 
and  stared  at  the  trappers  in  return.  For  a  mo 
ment  they  appeared  to  be  utterly  confounded  ;  then 
they  slowly  turned  their  heads  until  their  eyes  met. 
They  looked  inquiringly  at  one  another,  exchanged 
quick  glances  of  intelligence,  and  a  smile  of  satis 
faction  overspread  their  faces.  Walter  saw  all  these 
movements,  and  wondered  what  could  be  the  mean 
ing  of  them.  It  was  plain  that  there  was  some 
thing  about  him  that  interested  the  trappers — so 
much  so,  in  fact,  that  they  seemed  to  forget  that 


164  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

there  was  any  body  besides  himself  in  the  camp— 
but  what  could  it  be  ? 

The  men  quickly  recovered  from  their  surprise, 
and  after  looking  all  around  to  satisfy  themselves 
that  no  one  had  witnessed  their  strange  behavior, 
they  settled  back  on  their  blankets  again,  one  open 
ing  a  conversation  with  Uncle  Dick,  and  the  other 
addressing  himself  to  Walter.  They  were  both  ill 
at  ease,  and  Walter  noticed  that  the  one  who  was 
talking  to  Uncle  Dick,  listened  to  all  that  passed 
between  his  companion  and  himself. 

"Got  any  friends  in  these  parts?"  asked  the 
trapper. 

"No,"    answer   Walter.       "None   nearer    than 

Louisiana." 

"  Whar's  that  ?     In  the  States,  I  reckon." 
"Yes;    and  about  fifteen    hundred   miles    from 

here." 

"  Whar  have  you  come  from  ;  Fort  Bolton  ?" 

"No.     We're  just  from  Salt  Lake." 

"What  did  you  come  out  here  fur,  anyhow?" 

"Just  for  some  fun  and  excitement." 

"  Got  a  pap  ?" 

"Yes,  my  father  is  living." 

"  Ever  been  a  soldier?" 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  165 

44  Yes." 

"  They  call  him  Colonel,  don't  they  ?" 

"  Sometimes." 

"Name  Gay  lord  ?" 

"Yes,"  exclaimed  Walter,  greatly  surprised.  He 
had  thus  far  good-naturedly  answered  the  trapper's 
questions,  which  he  believed  to  be  prompted  merely 
by  a  spirit  of  curiosity,  paying  more  attention  to  the 
language  in  which  they  were  propounded,  than  to 
the  questions  themselves ;  but  now  he  began  to  be 
interested.  "  My  father's  name  is  Gaylord,  but 
how  did  you  find  it  out  ?" 

"I  was  sartin  of  it,"  continued  the  trapper. 
"  I've  seed  your  pap  often ;  know  a  heap  about 
him." 

"You  do?"  cried  Walter.  He  was  greatly  de 
lighted  now,  for  he  believed  that  he  had  met  one  of 
his  father's  old  comrades  in  arms,  and  that  he  could 
tell  him  of  the  battles  fought  in  Mexico  by  the 
American  army  against  such  overwhelming  odds — a 
subject  that  he  never  grew  tired  of  talking  about. 
"  Where  did  you  ever  see  him  ?" 

"  Sartin  I  know  him,"  answered  the  trapper, 
"  an'  a  braver  man  never  stretched  shoe  leather. 


166  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

You're  a  chip  of  the  old  block,  I  reckon ;  haint 
YOU  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid  not.  I  can  scarcely  hope  to  be  as 
good  a  man  in  every  respect  as  my  father  is.  But 
I'd  like  to  have  you  answer  my  question.  Where 
did  you  ever  meet  him  ?" 

"  Walter,"  shouted  Frank  from  the  wagon  at  this 
moment,  "you'll  be  in  a  pretty  predicament  in  the 
morning,  if  you  don't  come  out  here  and  catch  your 
horse.  He's  loose,  arid  won't  let  me  go  near  him." 

Walter  hurried  out  to  secure  his  refractory  steed, 
and  thus  his  conversation  with  the  trapper  was  in 
terrupted.  He  spent  half  an  hour  in  pursuit  of  his 
charger,  and  before  he  succeeded  in  capturing  him 
was  obliged  to  call  all  the  Club  out  to  his  assistance. 
The  unruly  brute  had  by  some  means  slipped  the 
lariat  with  which  he  was  picketed  over  his  head,  and 
was  galloping  off  over  the  prairie  as  if  he  had  made 
up  his  mind  to  start  for  St.  Joseph  on  his  own  hook. 
After  considerable  manceuvering  the  Club  got  him 
surrounded,  and  then  he  allowed  Walter  to  catch 
him.  The  boy  fastened  him  securely  this  time,  and 
with  his  companions  hurried  back  to  the  camp,  in 
tending  to  resume  his  conversation  with  the  trapper; 
but,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  the  men  were  gone.  Af- 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  167 

ter  eating  the  supper  prepared  for  them,  they  had 
saddled  their  horses  and  rode  off,  without  saying  a 
word  to  anybody. 

"Now  that's  too  bad,"  said  Eugene,  in  a  disap 
pointed  tone.  "  I  wanted  them  to  tell  us  some 
stories  before  they  went." 

"  I  think  they  might  at  least  have  thanked  us  for 
the  supper  we  gave  them,"  observed  Bab. 

"Ha!  ha!"  laughed  Archie;  "  the  people  out  here 
don't  do  business  that  way.  They  take  everything 
as  a  matter  of  course.  If  you  should  thank  a  trapper 
for  his  hospitality,  he  wouldn't  know  what  you 
meant." 

"  Uncle  Dick,"  said  Walter,  "did  you  notice 
that  man  who  was  talking  with  me?" 

"  I  did.  I  took  a  good  look  at  him,  and  a  more 
villanous  face  I  never  saw  on  a  human  being." 

"  Did  he  say  anything  about  me  while  I  was 
gone?" 

"  Not  a  word." 

"  Well,  how  do  you  suppose  he  knew  me  ?  He 
told  me  that  my  name  is  Gaylord,  and  that  father 
used  to  be  a  colonel." 

The  Club,  who  had  been  so  busy  with  their  prepa 
rations  for  supper  that  they  had  not  overheard  any 


168  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

of  the  conversation  between  Walter  and  the  trapper, 
expressed  unbounded  astonishment  at  this  piece  of 
news,  and  even  the  old  sailor  opened  his  eyes  in  sur 
prise.  Presently  Eugene,  who  was  the  first  to  speak, 
cried  out — 

"  I  believe  I  can  see  through  it.  You  know  that 
during  the  Mexican  war  father  was  one  of  General 
Scott's  cavalry  commanders,  and  no  doubt  this  man 
met  him  there.  Perhaps  he  belonged  to  father's 
regiment." 

"That  may  all  be,"  returned  Walter;  "but  it 
doesn't  explain  how  he  came  to  recognise  me  so 
readily,  does  it  ?  Why  didn't  he  call  you  by  name  ? 
Uncle  Dick  was  father's  major ;  why  didn't  he 
recognise  him  ?" 

These  were  questions  that  Eugene  could  not  an 
swer.  While  he  was  thinking  them  over,  Uncle 
Dick  arose  from  his  blanket,  saying  as  he  did  so  : 

"  Frank,  let's  take  a  look  at  the  horses  before  we 
go  to  sleep.  The  rest  of  you  boys  stay  here." 

"  Ah  ha  !"  whispered  Eugene,  excitedly,  "  there's 
something  up.  Uncle  is  going  to  consult  with 
Frank,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  it  was  about  those 
trappers.  Who  knows  but  that  they  are  outlaws, 
and  that  we  shall  have  a  fight  with  them  before 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  169 

morning  ?  I  wonder  how  I  would  behave  if  I  should 
hear  bullets  whistling  about  rny  ears  ?  It  wouldn't 
frighten  you,  would  it,  George?" 

"Not  much,"  replied  George,  with  a  smile.  "I 
am  used  to  it." 

The  boys  were  all  highly  excited.  They  knew 
that  what  Uncle  Dick  had  said  about  looking  at  the 
horses  was  merely  an  excuse ;  but  they  could  not 
understand  why,  if  he  had  anything  to  say  to  Frank, 
he  did  not  say  it  in  the  presence  of  them  all.  They 
discussed  the  matter  thoroughly  during  the  next 
few  minutes,  and  the  only  conclusion  they  could 
come  to  was,  that  Uiere  was  "something  up." 


170  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHAT    THEY    DID. 

TT^RANK,"  said  the  sailor,  as  soon  as  he  and  his 
young  companion  were  out  of  earshot  of  the 
boys  at  the  fire  ;  "  what  do  you  think  of  our  late 
visitors  ?" 

"  I  think  they  look  too  much  like  Black  Bill  to 
be  honest,"  was  the  reply. 

"It  is  rather  singular  that  that  man  should  call 
Walter  by  name  and  tell  him  that  his  father  used  to 
be  a  colonel,  isn't  it  ?  He  surely  did  not  recognise 
the  boy,  for  he  never  saw  him  before.  How  do  you 
account  for  that  ?" 

"  He  must  have  taken  him  for  another  person." 

"  That  is  my  idea.  But  it  is  a  matter  of  no  im 
portance,  and  so  we  will  not  waste  time  in  specu 
lating  about  it.  What  I  wanted  to  say  to  you  is 
this :  you  know  that  some  of  the  emigrants  we  met 
on  the  road,  told  us  that  they  were  obliged  to  watch 
their  stock  continually  to  keep  it  from  being  stolen, 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  171 

and  that  the  would-be  thieves  were  all  white  men. 
Now  it  has  struck  me  that  these  visitors  of  ours 
would  not  be  above  a  thing  like  that." 

"  I  don't  believe  they  would  either,"  said  Frank, 
seeing  that  the  old  sailor  paused  and  looked  at  him, 
as  if  waiting  to  hear  what  he  thought  about  it. 
"  I  wouldn't  trust  them." 

"  Neither  would  I.  I  have  had  considerable  ex 
perience  with  such  characters,  first  and  last,  and  I 
noticed  that  these  men  looked  at  our  horses  very 
closely.  We  had  better  put  out  guards,  and  then 
we  shall  be  safe.  If  you  will  take  charge  of  the 
matter  and  look  out  for  things  until  midnight,  I  will 
relieve  you." 

Of  course  Frank  jumped  at  the  proposal.  This 
looking  out  for  danger,  and  taking  measures  to 
guard  against  it,  suited  him  exactly,  for  it  reminded 
him  of  by-gone  days.  He  was  like  an  old  cavalry 
horse  which  hears  the  sound  of  the  bugle  for  the 
first  time  in  many  years.  The  spirit  of  old  times 
came  back  to  him,  and  as  far  as  he  was  individually 
concerned,  he  would  not  have  cared  a  straw  if  their 
late  visitors  had,  at  that  very  moment,  made  a  dash 
into  the  camp,  accompanied  by  half  a  dozen  more 
of  the  same  stamp  as  themselves.  He  almost  hoped 


172  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

they  would  do  it  before  morning.  He  spent  a  fev 
minutes  more  in  talking  the  matter  over  with  Unch 
Dick,  and  then  returned  with  him  to  the  camp.  Ii 
a  few  hurried  words  the  old  sailor  repeated  to  th< 
excited  and  impatient  boys  the  conversation  he  hac 
just  held  with  Frank,  and  explained  the  plans  the} 
had  determined  upon;  and  if  one  might  judge  bj 
the  exclamations  that  arose  on  all  sides,  and  the 
general  rush  that  was  made  for  rifles  and  revolvers, 
the  Club  were  animated  by  a  spirit  very  nearly  akir 
to  that  which  had  taken  possession  of  Frank. 

"I'm  one  of  the  guards!"  exclaimed  Eugene, 
buckling  on  his  six-shooter.  "  Who  is  with  me  ?" 

"I  am,"  cried  Featherweight. 

"So  am  I!"  shouted  Bab. 

"Now  just  listen  to  me  a  minute  arid  I'll  tell  you 
something,"  chimed  in  Perk.  "  I  am  with  you, 
too." 

"  Avast  there,  boys  !"  exclaimed  Uncle  Dick. 
"  We  don't  want  more  than  two,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  camp,  and  Frank  will  select  them.  They 
will  be  under  his  instructions  until  twelve  o'clock, 
when  he  will  call  me  arid  I  will  select  two  more, 
who  will  watch  with  me  until  daylight.  Pick  your 
men,  Frank." 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  173 

Walter  and  Bab  were  chosen,  and  the  others,  al 
though  greatly  disappointed,  good-naturedly  sub 
mitted  and  hung  up  their  weapons.  While  the 
lucky  ones  were  examining  their  revolvers  and  buck 
ling  them  OH,  Uncle  Dick  directed  the  others  to 
bring  in  all  the  horses  and  fasten  them  securely  to 
the  wagon  ;  and  after  that  had  been  done  to  turn  in 
and  go  to  sleep. 

When  the  guards  were  ready  Frank  shouldered 
his  Maynard,  and  set  off  with  them  up  the  road 
toward  the  mountains.  About  a  hundred  yards  from 
the  camp  he  halted  in  the  mouth  of  a  narrow  ravine 
through  which  the  road  ran,  and  turning  to  his  com 
panions,  said :  "  Now,  fellows,  here's  the  place  for 
one  of  you." 

"I'll  take  it,"  said  Bab. 

"  All  right.  Now  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  stop 
any  one  who  may  come  along  this  road  from  the 
mountains,  and  make  him  give  an  account  of  him 
self.  If  I  hear  you  challenge  I  will  come  out. 
The  sides  of  this  ravine  are  too  steep  to  be  scaled, 
consequently  no  one  can  pass  you  without  being  seen. 
Good-night." 

Accompanied  by  Walter,  Frank  went  back  down 
the  road,  through  the  camp  and  out  on  the  prairie. 


174  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Walter  was  stationed  about  as  far  on  this  side  of  the 
fire  as  Bab  was  on  the  other.  After  repeating  the 
instructions  he  had  given  the  latter,  and  cautioning 
him  to  keep  a  sharp  watch  over  the  horses,  Frank 
said  abruptly : 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  Indians  sneaking  upon  a 
camp  disguised  with  a  buffalo  robe  or  wolf-skin  ? 
Well,  some  of  these  white  men  out  here  are  a  good 
deal  like  Indians,  when  they  are  bent  on  mischief, 
and  one  must  be  constantly  on  the  alert  to  guard 
against  them.  Keep  your  eyes  on  the  grass,  and  if 
you  see  anything  creeping  toward  you,  bang  away. 
Shoot  to  hit,  too.  Let  nothing,  man  or  beast,  come 
within  twenty  yards  of  you.  Perhaps  I  ought  not 
to  have  said  so  much  to  him,"  thought  Frank,  as 
he  retraced  his  steps  toward  the  camp,  "  but  some 
how  I  couldn't  help  it.  As  Dick  Lewis  used  to 
say,  <  there's  danger  in  the  air  ;  I  feel  it  in  my  bones.' 
But,  after  all,  Walter  is  no  coward,  if  he  is  green  as 
far  as  prairie  life  is  concerned,  and  no  doubt  it  was 
well  to  put  him  on  his  guard." 

Walter  stood  gazing  after  Frank's  retreating  form 
until  it  disappeared  around  the  hill  behind  which 
the  camp  was  located,  and  then  shouldering  his  rifle 
began  pacing  his  beat.  Frank  had  aroused  his 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  175 

suspicions — not  so  much  by  the  words  of  which  he 
had  made  use,  as  by  the  earnestness  of  his  manner. 
What  did  he  mean  by  telling  him  so  emphatically  to 
allow  neither  man  nor  beast  to  approach  him  ;  and 
why  had  he  not  given  Bab  the  same  instructions? 
He  believed  his  friend  was  keeping  something  from 
him,  and  the  thought  made  him  feel  far  from  com 
fortable.     He  was  not  afraid,  for  he  could   discover 
nothing  to  be  afraid  of,  and  it  required  the  actual 
presence  of  peril  to  excite  fear  in  Walter  Gaylord's 
breast.     More  than  that,  the  camp  was  but  a  short 
distance  away.    He  could  see  the  fire  shining  through 
the  trees  in   the  grove,  the  wagon  with  its   white 
cover  and  the  horses  hitched  about  it  standing  a  little 
farther  off,  and  he  knew  that  if  danger  approached 
a  few  rapid  bounds  would  take  him  to  a. place  of 
comparative  safety  ;  yet  he  could  not  have  felt  more 
lonely  if  he  had  known  that  there  was  not  a  single 
human  being  nearer  than  St.  Joseph  or  Sari  Fran 
cisco.     The  dismal  howling  of  the  prairie  wolves 
seemed  to  have  a  wonderful  effect  upon  his   spirits, 
which  for  some  reason  or  other  were  already  greatly 
depressed.     He  began  to  tremble  as  he  walked,  and 
once  or  twice  he  stopped  suddenly  arid  drew  back 
the  hammer  of  his  rifle,  under  the  impression  that 


176  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

he  saw  some  dark  object  creeping  toward  him  through 
the  tall  grass.  At  last  the  creation  of  his  fancy 
became  a  reality.  There  was  certainly  something 
approaching,  but  it  was  not  creeping  through  the 
grass — it  was  coming  along  the  road.  As  it  drew 
nearer  he  saw  that  there  were  two  objects  instead 
of  one,  and  they  gradually  grew  more  distinct  in 
outline,  until  he  made  out  that  they  were  two  mounted 
men.  They  were  coming  up  at  a  rapid  walk,  and, 
what  seemed  very  strange  to  Walter,  they  were 
keeping  their  horses  in  the  grass  on  the  side  of  the 
road,  so  that  the  animals'  hoofs  gave  out  no  sound. 
In  an  instant  the  boy's  rifle  was  at  his  shoulder  and 
his  finger  on  the  trigger.  "  Who  comes  there  ?"  he 
demanded. 

"  Hist !"  replied  a  voice,  in  low  and  cautious 
tones.  "  You  needn't  be  skeared  ;  we're  friends." 

"  Halt !"  said  Walter,  almost  involuntarily  low 
ering  his  own  voice.  "  Dismount,  both  of  you. 
Advance  one  friend  and  give  an  account  of  your 
self." 

The  men  readily  obeyed  the  command,  and  one 
held  the  horses  while  the  other  walked  quickly 
towards  Walter,  turning  and  looking  behind  him 
now  and  then  as  if  he  were  afraid  that  there  was 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  177 

something  following  him.  As  he  came  up  Walter 
recognised  him  as  one  of  the  trappers  who  had  eaten 
supper  at  the  Club's  camp-fire.  He  noticed,  too, 
that  he  had  left  his  rifle  with  his  companion  ;  but 
remembering  that  he  had  been  placed  there  to  guard 
the  camp  against  these  very  men,  he  did  not  let  him 
approach  two  near.  "  Stand  where  you  are,"  he 
commanded.  "  Now  what  have  you  to  say  for 
yourself?" 

The  man  stopped,  and  turning  half  around  and 
gazing  over  his  shoulder  intently,  as  if  trying  to 
pierce  through  the  darkness  that  shrouded  the 
prairie,  held  up  his  finger  warningly  and  said  in  a 
ow  whisper  :  "  Listen  !  Don't  you  hear  nothing?" 

Yes,  Walter  did  hear  something— a  faint,  far  off 
moan,  which  sounded  like  the  wash  of  the  surf  on  the 
•each  ;  but  he  had  heard  that  sound  ever  since  he 
lad  been  on  guard,  and  he  thought  it  was  the  sighing 
)f  the  wind  through  the  trees  in  the  grove.  "  What 
s  it  ?"  he  asked,  in  a  voice  that  trembled  in  spite  of 
iimself. 

"  That's  them,"  replied  the  trapper,  in  a  still 
ower  whisper. 

"They!  Who?" 

"Injuns!" 
12 


178  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"Indians  !"  cried  Walter,  alarmed  by  the  simple 
mention  of  the  word;  ".hostile  Indians?" 

"  In  course.  Thar  aint  no  other  kind  on  the 
prairy.  That  noise  is  the  sound  of  their  hosses'  feet. 
They're  comin  nigher  every  minute.  We  jest  did 
get  away  from  them  an'  that  was  all — me  an'  Tony 
did.  Listen!  Don'~t  you  hear' em  ?" 

To  Walter's  excited  imagination  the  sound  seemed 
to  increase  in  volume.  It  no  longer  resembled  the 
wash  of  the  surf,  but  was  like  the  rush  of  a  squadron  of 
cavalry ;  and  Walter  even  thought  he  could  distin 
guish  the  strokes  of  the  hoofs.  There  was  an  army 
of  enemies  approaching.  To  say  that  he  was  fright 
ened  would  not  half  express  his  feelings.  He  was 
so  nearly  overcome  with  terror  that  he  could  not 
speak.  Forgetting  Frank's  emphatic  instructions, 
his  prudence  and  everything  else  but  that  there  was 
danger  near,  he  lowered  the  hammer  of  his  rifle, 
dropped  the  butt  of  the  weapon  to  the  ground,  and 
stood  trembling  in  every  limb.  When  the  trapper 
came  up  and  took  his  stand  beside  him,  and  his 
companion  approached  with  the  horses,  Wai  ten 
raised  no  objections.  He  saw  that  the  men  appeared 
to  be  greatly  excited  about  something,  and  that! 
added  to  his  terror. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  179 

"We  beared  'em  comin — me  an'  Tony  did,"  con 
tinued  the  trapper  who  had  first  spoken,  "  an'  rid 
back  to  tell  you.  My  ole  colonel's  boy  is  in  that 
camp — but  you're  him  now,  haint  you?"  he  added, 
peering  sharply  into  Walter's  face. 

"  Yes,  my  name  is  Gaylord." 

"  I  thought  so.  Your  pap  would  never  forgive  me 
if  I  should  let  harm  come  to  you.  We  must  get 
them  fellers  into  the  saddle  to  onst,  an'  run  for  it." 

Walter  was  ready  to  "run  for  it  "  then,  and  he 
did.  He  faced  about  and  started  for  the  camp  at 
the  top  of  his  speed ;  but  before  he  had  made  many 
steps  his  heels  flew  up,  his  gun  went  whirling  out 
of  his  hands,  and  he  was  sent  headlong  through  the 
air  as  if  he  had  been  thrown  from  a  catapult.  He 
was  so  badly  stunned  that  he  could  not  recover  his 
feet,  and  neither  could  Jie  tell  exactly  what  was 
going  on  around  him.  He  had  a  vague  idea,  how 
ever,  that  he  was  roughly  seized,  that  a  brawny 
hand  was  pressed  tightly  over  his  mouth,  that  his 
arms  were  tied  behind  his  back,  and  that  then  he  was 
lifted  from  the  ground  and  carried  through  the  air 
with  lightning  speed.  He  thought  he  was  dreaming, 
and  tried  to  arouse  himself,  but  could  neither  move 
nor  speak.  He  must  have  remained  for  hours  in 


180  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

this  half  unconscious  state,  for  when  he  came  to 
himself  it  was  broad  daylight.  He  was  lying  un 
bound  on  a  blanket  in  a  little  grove  of  cotton-woods, 
similar  to  the  one  in  which  the  Club  had  made  their 
camp,  a  fire  was  burning  brightly  at  his  feet,  and 
several  slices  of  bacon  were  broiling  on  the  coals. 
Close  at  his  side  lay  one  of  the  trappers — Tony,  he 
had  heard  him  called — slumbering  heavily  ;  and  in 
front  of  the  fire  sat  his  companion,  watching  the 
bacon,  and  now  and  then  nodding  his  head  as  if  he 
were  on  the  point  of  falling  asleep.  In  an  instant 
the  events  of  the  previous  night  came  back  to  Walter, 
accompanied  by  the  disheartening  conviction  that 
he  was  a  prisoner.  Almost  involuntarily  he  started 
to  a  sitting  posture,  but  his  head  grew  dizzy  as  soon 
as  he  raised  it  from  the  ground,  and  he  was  glad  to 
lie  down  again.  The  movement  attracted  the  at 
tention  of  the  man  at  the  fire,  who  turned  and 
looked  at  him  with  a  triumphant  leer  on  his  face. 

"  Wai,  my  young  cub,"  said  he  ;  "  you  come  out 
here  to  see  some  fun,  you  told  me  last  night.  Seed 
any  yet  ?" 

"Where  are  my  friends?"  asked  Walter,  in  a 
faint  voice.  "  Did  the  Indians  attack  thorn  ?" 

"  Injuns !"  repeated  the   trapper,    with    a   grin. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  181 

"  I  hain't  seed  any  about  here,  nor  heared  of  'em 
nuther.  Tears  to  me  like  you  have  been  on  the 
prairy  long  enough  to  tell  the  difference  atween  the 
sound  of  hosses'  feet,  a-n'  the  sighin'  of  the  wind 
through  the  trees.  You  see  we  were  bound  to  have 
you,  me  an'  Tony  were,  an'  I  told  you  that  story 
about  the  Injuns  to  help  us  along.  It  tuk  you  back 
so  bad  that  you  forgot  to  make  us  keep  our  distance, 
an'  when  we  onst  got  within  reach  of  you,  it  wasn't 
no  trouble  to  knock  you  down  an'  tie  you  hard  and 
fast.  But  I  didn't  think  to  take  you  so  easy;  an' 
Tony  didn't,  nuther." 

Walter  was  greatly  relieved  to  hear  this,  and  he 
was  amazed,  too.  Had  the  trapper  really  worked 
upon  his  fears  until  he  had  made  him  believe  that 
the  moaning  of  the  wind  through  the  trees  was  the 
sound  of  horses'  hoofs  ?  It  did  not  seem  possible, 
but  in  the  absence  of  evidence  to  the  contrary  he 
was  obliged  to  believe  it.  If  that  was  the  case  his 
friends  were  safe.  That  was  a  most  encouraging 
thought,  and  the  satisfaction  it  gave  him  must  have 
showed  itself  in  his  face,  for  the  trapper,  who  was 
watching  him,  closely  hastened  to  say : 

"  You  needn't  count  on  gettin'  no  help  from  y-  ar 


182  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

pardners,  'cause  we're  far  enough  from  em'  now. 
We  have  been  travellin'  our  level  best  all  night." 

Walter  made  no  reply.  He  had  all  faith  in  his 
friends,  and  he  knew  that  they  would  do  what  mor 
tals  could  do  to  find  him  and  effect  his  release.  He 
had  recovered  his  usual  courage  by  this  time,  and 
leaning  his  head  on  his  hand,  and  resting  his  elbow  on 
the  ground,  he  watched  the  trapper  as  he  turned  the 
slices  of  bacon,  and  tried  to  settle  it  in  his  mind  why 
the  men  had  made  a  prisoner  of  him,  and  what  they 
intended  to  do  with  him.  There  was  but  one  answer 
that  suggested  itself  to  him.  The  man  by  the  fire 
had  told  him  that  he  had  known  his  father  while  he 
was  a  soldier.  No  doubt,  as  Eugene  thought,  he 
had  belonged  to  his  regiment,  for  he  had  spoken  of 
him  as  •"  my  old  colonel."  Doubtless  he  had  been 
guilty  of  some  offence  for  which  his  officer  had 
punished  him.  Perhaps,  too,  he  had  sworn  to 
have  revenge — he  looked  like  a  man  who  would 
follow  another  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  to  satisfy  a 
grudge  against  him — arid  as  it  was  out  of  his  power 
to  punish  the  colonel,  he  had  resolved  to  wreak  his 
vengeance  on  his  son.  But  there  were  one  or  two 

o 

flaws  in  this  explanation  of  the  trappers'  conduct : 
How  could  a  man,  who  had  never  seen  Walter  before, 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  183 

know  tha  t  his  name  was  Gaylord,  and  that  his  father 
had  been  a  colonel  ?  And  if  he  had  served  under 
Mr.  Gaylord  in  Mexico,  why  had  he  not  recognised 
Uncle  Dick,  who  was  major  in  the  same  regiment? 
These  were  questions  the  boy  could  not  answer. 

u  You  was  mighty  innercent  when  I  spoke  to  you 
last  night,  wasn't  you  now?"  continued  the  trapper. 
"  You  thought  you  was  playin'  a  monstrous  sharp 
game  when  you  told  us  that  story  about  your  bein' 
from  the  States,  an'  not  havin'  no  friends  nigher 
than  fifteen  hundred  mile,  didn't  you?  But  we 
knowed  you  the  minute  we  sot  eyes  onto  you,  me 
and  Tony  did,  an'  we  knowed  who  your  pardners 
were,  too.  They're  soldiers  ;  and  that  ole  chap  in 
the  gray  whiskers  is  the  colonel.  We  knowed  him 
if  he  did  have  buckskin  on,  'cause  we've  seed  him 
at  the  fort  often." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  said  Walter.  "  You  never 
saw  him  at  any  fort  about  here  in  your  life.  He 
isn't  a  soldier;  he's  a  sailor." 

"  Hold  your  grip,  now.  You  can't  tell  me  nothing 
about  it,  'cause  I  know,  an'  so  does  Tony.  As  I 
was  goin'  to  say,  thar  ain't  much  for  you  to  do  in 
the  way  of  scoutiri'  now,  'cause  the  Injuns  here 
abouts  are  kinder  quiet,  so  you  puts  yourselves  into 


184  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

huntin'  shirts  an'  moccasins  an'  comes  out  to  hunt  up 
fellers  like  me  an'  Tony  ;  an'  you  calls  it  fun.  1 
reckon  you'll  see  how  much  fun  thar  is  in  it  afore 
we  are  done  with  you." 

This  speech  gave  Walter  a  hint  of  the  situation 
of  affairs.  It  was  plain  enough  to  him  now  that 
the  trappers  had  made  a  prisoner  of  him  under  the 
impression  that  he  was  somebody  else.  They  had 
committed  a  blunder  equal  to  that  the  revenue  cap 
tain  had  made  when  he  arrested  the  crew  of  the 
Banner  as  smugglers,  only  it  promised  to  end  much 
more  disagreeably. 

"Look  here,"  said  he,  suddenly;  "what's  your 
name  ?" 

"Wai,  I've  got  a  good  many — a  dozen  mebbe. 
The  one  I  am  travellin'  under  now,  if  it  will  do  you 
any  good  to  know  it,  is  Tom  Reed.  That  feller 
over  thar  is  Tony  Parks.  You're  Wat  Gaylord, 
Colonel  Gaylord's  son." 

"I  am  aware  of  that  fact,"  replied  Walter,  more 
astonished  than  ever  to  hear  the  trapper  so  readily 
pronounce  the  name  by  which  he  had  been  familiarly 
known  in  his  younger  days,  "  but  how  did  you  find 
it  out?" 

"Now  jest  look  a  here ;  do  you  take  us  fur  born 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  185 

fools  ?  Did  you  think  you  could  cut  up  sich  shines 
as  you  have  been  a  doin'  in  this  country  fur  the  last 
two  months,  an'  nobody  would  find  it  out  ?  We  all 
know  that  you  are  at  the  bottom  of  the  guv'nor's 
trouble,  an'  we've  all  swore  to  have  you,  dead  or 
alive.  That  ain't  no  news  to  you,  nuther." 

"You  don't  know  what  you  are  talking  about," 
replied  Walter.  "  I  am  not  the  man  you  have  been 
looking  for.  I  have  never  been  in  this  western 
country  before  in  my  life." 

"  Now  look  a  here,  my  cub,"  said  the  trapper, 
picking  up  a  stick  that  happened  to  be  lying  near 
him  on  the  ground,  "  that's  the  second  time  you 
have  corisputed  me.  Now  don't  do  it  agin,  cause  I 
won't  bar  it.  I'll  whack  you.  I  know  who  you 
be,  an'  what  you've  been  a  doin',  an'  I  won't  listen 
to  no  words.  If  it  wasn't  fur  swappin'  you  off  for 
the  guv'nor,  you'd  a  been  a  gone  leftenant  afore 
this  time." 

"  But  let  me  say  just  a  word,"  urged  Walter. 
"  I  can  convince  you  in  one  minute  that  you  have 
got  hold  of  the  wrong  man." 

u  Nary  squeak,  I  tell  you  ;  not  a  one.  Keep  mum 
an'  say  nothing  now ;  that's  the  best  thing  you  can 
do.  Wake  up,  Tony.  It's  time  we  were  travellin." 


186  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Tony  arose  at  the  word,  as  if  he  had  merely  been 
keeping  up  an  appearance  of  sleep,  on  purpose  to  be 
ready  to  move  the  instant  his  companion  spoke  to 
him.  He  looked  triumphantly  at  Walter  as  he 
passed,  but  said  nothing.  Seating  himself  in  front 
of  the  fire  he  seized  one  of  the  slices  of  bacon,  and 
devoured  it  as  if  he  had  been  fasting  for  a  week, 
while  his  companion  passed  a  piece  over  to  Walter 
on  the  point  of  his  bowie-knife.  The  boy  was  hun 
gry,  and  although  he  did  not  quite  like  the  appear 
ance  of  the  bacon,  which  was  coated  with  ashes,  he 
accepted  it,  not  knowing  how  long  it  might  be  before 
he  would  obtain  another  mouthful  ;  and  while  he 
was  eating  it  he  watched  the  movements  of  the 
trappers,  and  thought  over  his  situation.  He  wished 
they  would  let  him  talk  to  them  a  few  minutes 
longer,  for  he  had  learned  one  or  two  things  and 
wanted  to  learn  more.  He  knew  that  there  was 
another  Wat  Gaylord  on  the  prairie,  that  he  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  army,  and  that  he  had  done  some 
thing  to  bring  upon  him  the  displeasure  of  an  organ 
ized  band  of  outlaws,  of  which  the  two  men  who  now 
had  him  in  custody  were  members.  But  what  had 
he  done?  Who  was  the  "governor"  for  whom 
these  men  intended  to  exchange  him  ;  and  what 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  187 

ould  they  do  when  they  found  out  that  he  was  i.ot 
le  man  they  wanted  ?  These  were  the  questions  that 
Valter  would  have  liked  to  have  had  answered,  but 

wholesome  fear  of  Torn  Reed's  stick,  with  which  he 
ad  threatened  to  "  whack  "  him  if  he  spoke  again, 
ept  him  silent.  "  Frank,  Archie  and  Feather- 
eight  have  been  in  situations  similar  to  this  and 
ome  safely  out  of  them,"  thought  Walter,  as  he 
rushed  the  ashes  off  the  piece  of  bacon,  "  and  if 
icy  could  endure  separation  from  their  friends,  I 
an.  Fred  often  tried  to  make  me  understand  how 
e  felt,  while  he  was  kept  a  prisoner  among  the 
mugglers,  but  I  never  fully  sympathized  with  him 
ntil  this  moment.  He  didn't  get  discouraged  and 
low  the  white  feather,  and  neither  will  I." 

It  did  not  take  the  trappers  long  to  dispose  of 
leir  breakfast.  They  were  doubtless  accustomed 
o  eating  in  a  hurry,  and  in  five  minutes'  time  the 
aeon,  which  was  sufficient  in  quantity  to  furnish  a 
aeal  for  four  ordinary  men,  had  all  disappeared, 
ony  then  went  to  bring  up  the  horses,  which  were 
eeding  close  by  on  the  prairie,  while  Reed  put  out 
he  fire  and  rolled  up  the  blankets.  When  Walter 
aw  the  horses,  he  did  not  doubt  the  truth  of  the 
;atement  that  they  had  "  travelled  their  level 


188  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

best  all  night,"  for  the  animals  looked  completely 
jaded. 

"  Now  then,  leftenant,"  said  Reed,  as  he  swung 
his  heavy  form  into  the  saddle,  "  the  critters  can't 
stand  it  to  carry  double  no  longer,  so  you'll  have  to 
toddle  along  on  foot  the  rest  of  the  way.  It's  a 
right  smart  step  we've  got  to  go,  too  ;  but  you've  a 
good  pair  of  legs,  an'  it  won't  hurt  you.  F  oiler 
me." 

Reed  rode  off  as  he  spoke,  and  Walter,  in  obedi 
ence  to  his  command  fell  in  behind  him,  Tony  bring 
ing  up  the  rear.  In  this  order  they  travelled  all 
day,  stopping  only  twice  for  water,  and  once  at  noon 
to  eat  a  slice  of  bacon,  and  long  before  night  came 
Walter  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  his  journey  very 
sensibly.  If  his  muscles  had  not  been  hardened  by 
the  training  to  which  he  had  subjected  himself  from 
his  earliest  boyhood,  he  must  have  given  out  by  the 
way.  He  kept  up  a  light  heart  in  spite  of  his  fa 
tigue,  constantly  cheered  by  the  hope  that  he  might 
fall  in  with  some  one  upon  whom  he  could  throw 
himself  for  protection  ;  but  the  prairie  seemed  de 
serted  by  every  living  thing  except  a  few  scattering 
herds  of  antelopes,  which  gazed  at  them  from  the 
summit  of  distant  hills,  and  then  fled  like  the  wind. 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  189 

As  they  progressed  the  long,  regular  swells  gave 
place  to  high  bluffs,  intersected  with  deep  and  al 
most  impassable  ravines,  through  which  they  threaded 
their  way  for  a  dozen  miles  or  more,  arriving  at 
last  at  the  door  of  a  dilapidated-looking  ranche, 
which  was  so  snugly  hidden  among  the  cliffs  that 

O   t/  O 

one  might  have  passed  by  without  noticing  it. 
Several  rough-looking  men  in  ragged  buckskin  suits 
were  lounging  about  in  front  of  the  door,  and  these 
no  sooner  discovered  Walter  and  his  captors  than 
they  sprang  to  their  feet  in  great  excitement.  They 
crowded  about  them  as  they  came  up,  and  one  great 
bearded  giant,  after  regarding  the  prisoner  a  moment 
with  an  expression  of  mingled  amazement  and  de 
light  on  his  face,  exclaimed  in  a  stentorian  voice  : 

"  If  this  here  ain't  the  best  luck  that's  ever  fell 
to  our  share,  I'm  an  Injun !  Fellers,  it's  him ! 
How  do,  Leftenant  Gaylord  ?  We're  monstrous  glad 
to  see  you !" 

Walter  was  not  glad  to  see  him  or  any  of  his  com 
panions.  He  glanced  at  the  villanous  faces  that 
were  looking  down  into  his,  and  his  heart  sank  with 
in  him. 


190  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  XL 

"  CIIIXNY    BILLY." 

rilHE  reception  our  hero  met  with  from  the  men 
assembled  at  the  door  of  the  rancho,  was  the 
death-blow  to  his  hopes.  He  believed  that  some 
among  them  would  see,  at  a  glance,  that  he  was  not 
the  person  Reed  and  Parks  supposed  him  to  be,  but 
as  they  gathered  about  him  every  one  of  them  pro 
nounced  his  name,  prefixing  the  title  of  lieutenant, 
and  at  last  Walter  became  so  amazed  and  perplexed 
that  he  was  almost  ready  to  doubt  his  own  identity. 
Knowing,  by  the  experience  he  had  already  had, 
that  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  reason  with 
the  matter  with  these  brutes  in  human  form,  and 
fearing  that  it  might  arouse  their  anger,  he  held  his 
peace,  and  leaning  against  the  wall  of  the  rancho, 
waited  with  no  little  anxiety  to  hear  what  was  to  be 
done  with  him.  His  silence  was  mistaken  for  dog 
ged  courage  and  defiance,  and  he  rose  accordingly 
in  the  estimation  of  the  trappers.  They  gazed  at 


THE    TRAPPERS.  191 

him  with  great  curiosity,  and  the  longer  they  gazed 
the  more  their  astonishment  seemed  to  increase. 

"  Who'd  a  thought  this  yere  little  feller  could 
kick  up  sich  a  rumpus?"  exclaimed  the  giant. 
"  Why,  he's  nothing  but  a  boy  !  I  could  pick  him 
up  and  fling  him  over  the  house." 

"You'd  best  not  try  it,"  said  another.  "If  he 
is  little,  you  know  fur  yourself  that  he's  lightning. 
You've  got  a  hole  in  your  arm  to  prove  it  !" 

"  I  don't  bar  him  no  ill-will,"  continued  the  giant, 
"  'cause  it  was  fairly  done ;  but  if  it  was'nt  fur 
tradin'  him  fur  the  guv'nor,  I'd  show  you  all  how 
easy  I  could  get  away  with  him." 

The  trappers  conversed  in  this  way  for  several  min 
utes,  and  Walter  listened  with  all  his  ears,  hoping  to 
learn  something  ;  for  as  yet  he  had  not  the  remotest 
idea  what  he  was  accused  of.  He  was  satisfied,  from 
a  few  hints  he  received,  that  no  harm  would  be  done 
him,  at  least  for  the  present,  arid  that  was  all  he  did 
learn  ;  for  not  a  word  was  dropped  that  afforded  him 
the  slightest  cue  to  the  offence  with  which  he  was 
charged.  When  the  trappers  had  gazed  at  him  to 
their  satisfaction,  three  of  their  number,  who  seemed 
to  exercise  some  authority  over  the  others,  drew  off 
on  one  side  to  hold  a  consultation.  Among  them 


192  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

was  the  giant,  who  answered  to  the  name  of  Potter, 
and  who,  as  Walter  afterwards  learned,  was  the 
owner  of  the  rancho.  As  the  consultation  progressed 
it  became  evident  that  there  was  a  difference  of 
opinion  among  the  three,  for  they  talked  earnestly, 
stamped  their  feet  on  the  ground,  shook  their  fists 
in  the  air  to  give  emphasis  to  their  words,  and  Walter 
knew  by  the  glances  that  were  occasionally  directed 
toward  him,  that  he  was  the  subject  of  their  conver 
sation.  At  last  the  matter  seemed  to  have  been 
decided,  for  they  approached  the  place  where  the 
prisoner  was  standing,  and  Potter  said  to  one  of  his 
captors, 

"  Reed,  take  that  cub  o'  your'n  into  the  house  out 
of  sight.  Be  sure  an'  have  an  eye  on  him  all  the 
while,  or  he'll  slip  away  from  you  afore  you  know 
it,  like  he  did  last  time.  We'll  keep  him  here  to 
night,  an'  if  Brazzel  don't  come  afore  mornin',  I'll 
take  the  matter  into  my  own  hands.  I've  got  some 
thing  to  say,  I  reckon.  An'  now  listen  to  me,  all 
of  you.  If  he  gets  away,  it  ain't  no  fault  of  mine. 
If  I  could  have  my  gay,  I'd  pack  him  off  among  the 
Injuns  afore  he  was  an  hour  older.  He'd  be  safe 
thar  ;  but  Mason  and  Samson  won't  hear  to  it.  If 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  193 

anything  happens  blame  them   an'   not-  me.     Take 
him  away,  Reed." 

In  obedience  to  a  sign  from  his  captor  Walter 
entered  the  house.  "  Set  down  thar  on  that  bench," 
said  the  trapper,  "  an'  bar  one  thing  in  mind.  If 
you  behave  yourself  you're  all  right :  but  if  you  try 
to  come  any  more  of  your  slippery  soldier  games 
over  us,  I'll  put  a  ball  into  you  as  soon  as  I'd  look 
t  you !" 

The  apartment  into  which  Walter  was  conducted 
vas  as  dark  as  a  dungeon,  the  lantern  which  was 
uspended  from  a  beam  overhead  giving  out  but  a 
ickly  light,  and  only  serving  to  render  the  gloom 
risible.  With  some  difficulty  he  groped  his  way  to 
he  bench,  and  as  soon  as  he  could  discern  the  ob 
jects  in  the  room,  began  to  look  about  him.  The 
irst  thing  he  noticed  was  that  there  were  no  win 
dows  in  the  apartment — all  the  light  that  entered 
)eing  admitted  through  half  a  dozen  loopholes  in 
;he  walls,  and  the  next  that  it  was  used  both  as  a 
dining-hall  and  sleeping-room.  The  walls,  were 
:hickly  hung  with  weapons,  saddles  and  bridles  : 
Blankets  and  pouches  were  scattered  about  over  the 
loor  ;  two  men  were  sleeping  soundly  in  one  corner ; 
and  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  room  was  a  rough 
13 


194  TIIK  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

table  covered  with  tin  dishes  and  broken  crockery- 
ware.  A  savory  smell  coming  from  an  adjoining 
room  told  him  that  preparations  for  supper  were 
going  on  ;  and  presently  the  door  opened,  admitting 
a  negro,  who  carried  a  large  platter  of  fried  bacon 
in  his  hands.  He  stopped  suddenly  when  his  eyes 
rested  on  Walter's  face,  gazed  at  him  a  moment  as 
if  he  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes,  and  then  broke 
out  into  a  hearty  laugh. 

"Fore  Moses  if  dar  ain't  Marse  Gaylord !"  he 
exclaimed,  gleefully.  Depositing  the  platter  of 
bacon  on  the  table  he  approached  close  in  front  of 
the  prisoner  and  looked  at  him  long  and  earnestly. 

"You  see  now  that  you  have  made  a  mistake  in 
the  man,  don't  you,  Uncle?"  asked  Walter. 
*    "  Tears  to  me  like  you's  growed  littler  since  dis 
ole  nigger  las'  seed  you,"  was  the  reply.     "  But  I 
knows  you,  boy,  an'  I'se  got  de  bump  on  my  old  head' 
yet  whar  you  hit  me  dat  crack  with  yer  pistol,  de 
night  you  run  away  from  us." 

"  I  never  struck  you  in  my  life.  More  than  that, 
I  never  saw  you  until  this  moment." 

"  0,  hush  yer  noise,  boy !  Does  you  think  you 
you  can  fool  yer  ole  Uncle  Toby  ?  No,  sar.  I'se  a 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  195 

heap  of  '  spec'  fur  courage,  I  has,  an'  I'll  get  you  a 
good  supper  to  pay  fur  dat  lick  you  struck  me." 

The  negro  hurried  away,  and  in  a  few  seconds  re 
turned  with  a  tin  plate  arid  a  quart  cup,  which  he 
deposited  on  one  end  of  the  table.  When  after 
drawing  up  a  couple  of  long  benches  to  serve  in  place 
of  chairs,  he  opened  the  door  that  led  into  the  hall 
and  shouted — 

"Grub!" 

Judging  by  the  prompt  response  the  trappers  gave 
to  this  invitation,  they  were  hungry.  They  entered 
in  a  body,  and  not  being  obliged  to  go  through  the 
ceremony  of  washing  their  hands  and  faces,  seated 
themselves  around  the  table  and  went  to  work  im- 
-mediately.  No  one  paid  the  least  attention  to  Wal 
ter  except  the  negro.  At  a  sign  from  him  the  boy 
took  his  seat  on  one  of  the  benches  and  fell  to  with 
the  rest.  Toby  was  a  passable  cook,  and  although 
the  coffee  was  strong  and  the  dishes  none  of  the 
cleanest,  Walter  made  a  hearty  meal.  He  noticed 
that  Reed  did  not  come  to  the  table,  but  kept  his 
seat  by  the  door  with  his  rifle  lying  beside  him  on 
the  bench.  The  trapper  who  first  finished  his  sup 
per  took  his  place,  and  also  laid  his  weapons  within 
easy  reach.  Walter  could  not  repress  a  smile  when 


196  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

he  witnessed  these  precautions.  Did  the  trappers 
take  him  for  a  desperado  or  a  lunatic  ?  Probably 
the  latter  ;  for  the  idea  that  any  one  of  his  years, 
arid  in  his  sober  senses,  would  attempt  to  cope  with 
half  a  score  of  armed  men,  was  ridiculous.  It  sat 
isfied  him  of  one  thing,  and  that  was,  that  Lieuten 
ant  Gaylord,  whoever  he  might  be,  had  given  these 
very  men  a  lesson  they  did  not  intend  to  forget. 

As  soon  as  supper  was  over  Toby  came  in  to  clear 
away  the  dishes,  while  the  majority  of  the  trappers 
spread  their  blankets  on  the  benches  and  on  the 
floor,  and  after  smoking  their  pipes,  prepared  to  go 
to  sleep.  Potter  held  another  consultation  with 
some  of  his  men,  and  taking  a  long  rope  down  from 
a  peg  in  the  Avail,  approached  his  prisoner,  saying: 
"  Stand  up,  Leftenant !  I've  hearn  tell  that  you 
have  a  way  of  turnin'  yourself  loose  whenever  you 
feel  like  it ;  but  I'll  allow  that  I  can  tie  you  so  you 
can't  get  away." 

As  he  said  this  he  pulled  Walter's  arms  behind  his 
back,  passed  one  end  of  the  rope  around  them,  draw 
ing  it  so  tight  that  the  pain  almost  brought  tears  to 
his  eyes,  and  wrapping  the  other  about  his  ankles. 
So  careful  was  he  to  make  every  knot  secure,  that 
he  spent  a  good  deal  of  time  in  the  operation,  and 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  197 

when  it  was  completed  he  looked  at  his  captive  with 
a  smile  of  satisfaction,  declaring  that  if  he  could  get 
out  of  that  rope  he  was  a  "  hoss." 

"  Now  then,  ketch  hold  of  him,  some  of  you,  and 
tote  him  back  into  the  lumber-room,"  continued 
Potter.  "  An'  Mason,  you  stay  thar  an'  watch  him 
a  couple  of  hours,  and  then  call  somebody  else." 

In  obedience  to  these  orders  two  of  the  trappers 
raised  Walter  in  their  arms,  and  after  carrying  him 
along  a  wide  hall,  deposited  him  on  the  floor  of  the 
lumber-room.      Mason,    the   guard,   came    in    soon 
afterward,  bringing  a  lantern  and  a  nail-keg.     The 
lantern  he  hung  upon  a  hook  in  the  ceiling,  and  the 
nail-keg  he  placed  beside  the  door  and  seated  himself 
upon   it,    leaning    his    head    against    the    wall  and 
watching  his  prisoner  closely,  as  if  he  feared   that 
he  might  contrive  some  way  to  slip  out  of  his  bonds 
before  he  knew  it.     Walter  tried  to  open  a  conver 
sation  with  him,  but  the  man  gruffly  replied  that  he 
had  been  sent  there  to  watch  him,  not    to  answer 
questions,  and  that  was  all  he  could  induce  him  to  say. 
Soon  afterward,  being  almost  overcome  with  fatigue, 
the  captive  dropped  into  an  uneasy  slumber. 

The  next  day  was  a  long   one  to  Walter.     He 
was  unbound  at  daylight  and  allowed  the  freedom 


198  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

of  the  living-room,  but  was  always  under  the  eye 
of  a  guard.  All  his  efforts  to  induce  the  trappers 
to  talk  with  him  were  unsuccessful.  Potter,  the 
only  one  among  them  who  was  in  the  least  commu 
nicative,  was  absent  all  day,  and  Walter  did  not 
see  him  until  supper  time.  The  first  words  be 
uttered  as  he  entered  the  rancho  were :  "  Has 
Brazell  comeback  yet?"  Being  answered  in  the 
negative,  he  expressed  considerable  astonishment, 
declared  that  he  had  waited  long  enough,  and  that 
he  was  going  to  take  the  matter  into  his  own  hands. 
The  prisoner  pricked  up  his  ears  when  he  heard 
this,  and  believing  that  he  was  in  some  way  inter 
ested,  watched  the  movements  of  the  giant  with 
anxious  eyes,  and  waited  impatiently  to  see  what  he 
was  going  to  do.  He  was  not  kept  long  in  suspense. 
As  soon  as  the  supper  dishes  had  been  cleared  away. 
Potter  produced  a  bottle  of  ink,  a  pen  and  a  sheet 
of  blue  note-paper  ;  and  after  taking  the  lantern 
down  from  its  nail  overhead,  turned  to  his  prisoner. 
"  Now,  Leftenant,"  said  he,  "draw  up  an'  write 
a  letter  to  the  Colonel.  Tell  him  that  we  have  got 
hold  of  you  agin,  an'  that,  although  you  had  oughter 
stretch  hemp  to  onst,  to  pay  fur  what  you  have 
done,  we  will  keep  you  safe  an'  sound  fur  one  week, 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  199 

If  by  the  end  of  that  time  your  pap  will  give  the 
guv'rior  up  to  us,  without  a  hair  of  his  head  hurt, 
we'll  turn  you  loose  an'  you  can  go  whar  you  please  ; 
but  if  he  don't  do  it,  he'll  never  set  eyes  on  you 
agin.  Draw  up,  I  say,  an'  tell  him  that." 

"Will  you  let  me  say  just  a  word  before  I  write 
that  letter  ?"  asked  Walter. 

"  Wai,  that  depends.  Wre  won't  bar  no  sass  or 
foolin'." 

"  I  am  not  going  to  be  impertinent,  and  this  is 
much  too  serious  a  matter  for  '  fooling.'  I  can  prove 
every  word  I  am  about  to  say  to  you,  if  you  will 
only  give  me  a  chance.  I  tell  you,  as  I  told  Reed 
and  Parks  when  they  first  made  a  prisoner  of  me, 
that  you  have  got  hold  of  the  wrong  man.  I  am 
not  Lieutenant  Gaylord.  More  than  that,  I — " 

The  expression  that  came  upon  Potter's  face  as 
Walter  uttered  these  words  checked  him.  He 
looked  perfectly  savage.  He  glared  at  the  boy  a 
moment  like  some  wild  animal,  and  bringing  his 
huge  fist  down  upon  the  table,  with  a  force  that 
fairly  made  the  room  echo,  roared  out — 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  your  name  ain't 
Gaylord?" 


200  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  No ;  I  do  not  mean  to  tell  you  anything  of  the 
kind.  What  I  do  mean  to  say  is — " 

"  Ain't  your  pap's  name  Gaylord,  too,  and  ain't 
he  a  Colonel?" 

"  My  father's  name  is  Gaylord,  of  course ;  but 
he  is  not — " 

"  Then  draw  up  to  this  yere  table  an'  write  that 
there  letter  without  no  more  words,  or — " 

Potter  finished  the  sentence  with  so  many  oaths 
and  threats  that  Walter  made  all  haste  to  obey, 
.fearing  that  if  he  hesitated  longer  the  trapper  would 
do  him  some  bodily  injury.  He  seated  himself  at 
the  table,  drew  the  writing-materials  toward  him,  and 
with  considerable  difficulty,  for  his  hand  trembled 
so  violently  that  he  could  scarcely  hold  the  pen, 
succeeded  in  placing  upon  the  sheet  of  blue  note- 
paper  what  the  trapper  had  told  him  to  write,  as 
nearly  as  he  could  recall  it.  He  did  not  know  who 
Colonel  Gaylord  was,  or  which  way  the  letter  would 
have  to  go  to  reach  him  ;  but  he  did  know  that 
he  was  a  stranger,  so  he  began  the  letter  with 
"  Sir,"  and  when  he  had  finished,  handed  it  to 
Potter  to  read. 

"  Let's  hear  what  you  have  writ,"  said  the  latter. 
"  I  can't  make  any  sense  outen  them  turkey  tracks." 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  201 

Walter  took  the  letter  from  his  hand  and  complied. 
u  Sir  !"  he  began. 

"  Stop  right  thar  !"  exclaimed  Potter,  quickly. 
"  Is  that  the  way  you  write  to  your  own  kin  folks  ? 
Scratch  that  'Sir'  out,  an'  put  'Dear  Pap'  thar. 
This  thing  has  got  to  be  done  up  in  style;  an'  you 
might  as  well  do  it  without  no  more  foolin'." 

Seeing  by  the  expression  in  the  trapper's  eye  that 
it  would  be  dangerous  to  hesitate,  Walter  drew  his 
pen  through  the  word  "  Sir"  and  addressed  as 
"  Dear  Father,"  a  man  whom  he  had  never  seen, 
and  whom  he  never  expected  to  see.  What  would 
his  own  father,  away  off  in  the  States,  have  thought 
of  such  a  proceeding  ?  When  the  correction  had 
been  made,  he  finished  reading  the  letter  and  once 
more  handed  it  to  Potter,  who  turned  and  addressed 
himself  to  his  companions.  "  We've  got  a  varmint 
to  deal  with  here,"  said  he,  glancing  at  Walter, 
"  an'  p'raps  he  ain't  read  what  he's  writ.  Mebbe 
he's  told  his  pap  whar  we  are,  an'  axed  him  to  bring 
the  soldiers  down  on  us.  Can  any  of  you  read 
this?" 

"  I  reckon  Chinny  Billy  can,"  observed  one  of 
the  trappers.  "  He's  up  to  a'most  everything,  I've 
heared  'em  say." 


202  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  Chinny  Billy,"  repeated  Potter.     "  Is  he  here  ?" 
"  I  hain't  no  whar  else,  boss."  replied  a  voice  that 
the  prisoner  was  certain  he  had  heard  before. 

The  trappers  who  were  crowded  about  the  table 
made  way  for  the  speaker,  and  when  he  came  into 
view  Walter  almost  jumped  from  his  seat,  so  great 
was  his  amazement.  Could  he  believe  his  eyes  ? 
He  rubbed  them  to  make  sure  that  he  was  not 
dreaming,  and  looked  again.  There  stood  Chinny 
Billy,  as  he  had  been  called,  the  finest  specimen  of 
a  young  backwoodsman  he  had  ever  seen.  He  was 
a  few  years  older  than  Walter,  considerably  taller, 
and  was  as  straight  as  an  arrow.  He  had  evidently 
just  come  out  of  some  trader's  store,  for  his  clothing 
was  all  new,  and  looked  as  though  it  had  never  seen 
an  hour's  service.  It  consisted  of  a  green  hunting- 
shirt  reaching  almost  to  his  knees,  buckskin  leggings 
and  trowsers  of  the  same  material,  both  ornamented 
in  the  most  elaborate  fashion.  The  collar  of  his 
hunting-shirt  was  thrown  back,  revealing  a  neck  arid 
throat  as  brown  as  any  Indian's.  A  black  slouch 
hat  wa,s  set  jauntily  over  his  long,  curly  hair,  and 
on  his  feet  he  wore  a  pair  of  light  shoes  instead  of 
moccasins.  Walter  took  in  all  the  details  of  his 
costume  at  a  glance,  and  fastening  his  eyes  upon 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  203 

the  face  of  the  new  comer,  waited  for  him  to  turn  it 
towards  the  light ;  for  thus  far  he  had  obtained  but 
a  partial  view  of  it. 

u  Chirmy  Billy,  give  us  a  shake,"  said  Potter, 
extending  his  hand.  "  We've  often  heard  of  you 
in  these  parts,  but  never  seed  you  afore.  You're 
welcome  to  my  rancho.  Did  you  ever  have  any 
sclioolin'  ?" 

"  Mebbe  I  can  read  it,  boss,"  replied  Chinny 
Billy.  "  Let's  have  a  look  at  it." 

When  he  began  to  read  the  letter,  Walter's  amaze 
ment  and  agitation  increased  a  thousand  fold.  He 
knew  the  clear,  ringing  tones  of  that  voice.  It 
could  belong  to  but  one  person  in  the  world,  and 
that  was  Frank  Nelson.  But  how  came  he  there  ? 
Walter  asked  himself.  He  was  utterly  confounded, 
and  began  to  think  he  was  taking  leave  of  his  senses. 
He  listened  to  the  reading  of  the  letter  like  one  in 
a  dream,  and  waited  with  no  little  anxiety  and  im 
patience  for  the  youth  to  turn  his  face  toward  him. 

"  It's  all  right,  boss,"  said  Chinny  Billy,  at 
length.  "  He  writ  just  what  you  told  him,  and 
didn't  say  nothing  to  his  pap  about  bringin'  the 
soldiers  here." 

"  I  was  afeared  he  had,"  returned  Potter.   "  Now, 


204  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Chinny,  do  the  folks  up  to  the  fort  know  who  you 
be?" 

"  They've  seed  me,  but  they  don't  know  nothing 
about  me." 

"  Then  you  could  take  this  letter  an'  give  it  to 
the  Colonel,  without  nobody's  sayin'  a  word  to  you, 
couldn't  you  ?" 

"  I  reckon." 

"  If  you'll  do  it,  I'll  give  you  the  next  good  hoss 
I  steal ;  what  do  you  say  ?" 

"  Talk  enough.  I  don't  know  no  easier  way  to 
earn  a  hoss." 

Potter  folded  the  letter  very  awkwardly  and 
handed  it  to  Chinny  Billy,  who  put  it  away  in  the 
crown  of  his  hat,  and  then  for  the  first  time  turned 
his  face  toward  Walter.  It  was  Frank  Nelson  if 
he  ever  saw  him  ;  but  there  was  no  sign  of  recog 
nition  in  his  countenance.  He  gave  the  prisoner 
a  cold,  impudent  stare  and  said  to  Potter : 

"  So  this  yere's  Leftenarit  Gay  lord,  the  spy  you've 
been  a  huntin'  fur  so  long  !  I  reckon  you'll  hold 
fast  to  him  this  time." 

"We  ain't  a  goin'  to  do  nothing  else,"  answered 
the  trapper.  "I  know  how  to  keep  him  safe. 
Stand  up,  my  cub,  an'  be  tied  agin  !" 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  205 

Walter's  mind  was  in  such  confusion  that  he 
scarcely  knew  what  happened  during  the  next  few 
minutes.  When  he  recovered  himself,  so  that  he 
was  able  to  take  note  of  the  things  ahout  him,  he 
was  lying  on  the  floor  of  the  lumber-room,  and  one 
of  the  trappers,  whom  he  had  heard  addressed  as 
Samson,  was  keeping  guard  over  him.  Instantly 
the  bewildering  events  that  had  happened  in  the 
living-room  came  back  to  him.  Who  was  Chinny 
Billy  ?  was  the  question  he  asked  himself  over  and 
over  again.  If  he  was  Frank  Nelson — and  Wal 
ter  was  positive  he  could  be  no  other — why  had 
he  acted  so  strangely  ?  Why  had  he  not  given  him 
some  sign — a  wink,  a  nod,  or  even  a  look,  to  show 
that  he  recognised  him  ?  Could  it  be  possible  that 
I  he  was  an  enemy  instead  of  a  friend  ?  A  suspicion 
like  this  did  cross  Walter's  mind,  and  before  the 
night  was  over  the  suspicion  became  belief. 

Walter  was  almost  overcome  with  terror  and 
anxiety,  and  for  a  long  time  he  could  not  sleep. 
The  pain  occasioned  by  his  bonds  was  almost  unbear 
able,  and  he  rolled  about  from  one  side  of  the  room 
to  the  other,  trying  in  vain  to  find  an  easy  position, 
or  a  plank  soft  enough  to  serve  him  for  a  bed.  He 
must  have  slept,  however,  during  the  latter  part  of 


206  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  night,  for  once  when  he  opened  his  eyes  and 
glanced  toward  his  guard,  he  saw  that  Samson  was 
gone,  and  that  his  place  was  occupied  by  Tony 
Parks,  who  sat  on  the  nail-keg  watching  him  as 
closely  as  his  predecessor  had  done.  While  Walter 
lay  looking  at  him,  he  heard  stealthy  footsteps  in 
the  hall.  A  moment  afterward  the  door  was  cau 
tiously  opened,  and  Tom  Reed's  head  appeared. 

"  It's  all  right,"  said  he,  in  a  scarcely  audible 
whisper.  "Now's  our  time.  Come  on!" 

Upon  hearing  these  words  Tony  Parks  arose  to 
his  feet  and  stepped  carefully  toward  his  prisoner, 
carrying  his  bowie-knife  in  his  hand.  Before  Wal 
ter  could  tell  what  he  was  going  to  do,  he  had  cut  the 
rope  with  which  he  was  bound,  and  after  freeing  his 
hands  and  feet  assisted  him  to  rise.  "  Mum's  the 
word,"  said  he,  seeing  that  the  boy  was  about  to 
speak.  "  If  you  do  as  you're  told,  an'  ax  no  ques 
tions,  you  shant  be  hurt.  Go  on,  now,  an'  step 
light," 

Walter  walked  out  of  the  room  as  noiselessly  as 
he  could,  and  followed  Reed  along  the  hall,  Parks 
bringing  up  the  rear,  arid  keeping  close  at  his  heels. 
The  trappers  were  very  stealthy  in  their  movements, 
around  them  with  evident  uneasiness,  arid 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  207 

istening  at  every  door  they  passed,  and  Walter  saw 
hat  they  carried  their  weapons  ready  for  instant 
use.  From  this  he  knew  that  they  were  engaged  in 
ome  business  they  did  not  want  their  friends  in  the 
Adjoining  room  to  know  anything  about.  Arriving 
it  the  outside  door  Reed  paused  long  and  warily 
>efore  venturing  out.  Having  satisfied  himself  that 
he  coast  was  clear,  he  moved  on,  Walter  and  Parks 
olio  wing  as  before ;  but  they  had  not  made  many 
teps  when  a  figure,  which  seemed  to  rise  out  of  the 
jround,  suddenly  appeared  in  their  path,  and  stood 
confronting  them  with  a  revolver  in  each  hand. 

"  Don't  move,  nary  one  o'  you,"  it  said,  in  savage 
ones.  "Drop  them  shootin'  irons  !" 

"  Chinny  Billy  !"  ejaculated  both  the  trappers, 
recoilino-  before  the  muzzles  of  the  revolvers. 

o 

u  Did  you  hear  what  I  said  about  droppin'  them 
we'pons  ?"  asked  Billy,  arid  this  time  Walter  recog 
nised  his  voice — Frank  Nelson's  voice. 

The  trappers  had  no  alternative,  for  Billy  held 
;hem  completely  in  his  power.  Without  a  word  of 
remonstrance  they  dropped  their  rifles  to  the  ground. 
Walter's  heart  beat  high  with  hope.  Billy  had 
things  his  own  way  now,  and  if  he  were  a  friend  all 
ic  had  to  do  was  to  make  himself  known.  Walter 


208  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

almost  believed  that  he  would  do  so;  but  while  he 
was  waiting  with  bated  breath  to  hear  his  name  pro 
nounced,  and  to  receive  the  assurance  that  he  was 
once  more  at  liberty,  two  men  suddenly  emerged  from 
the  shadow  of  the  bluif  and  approached  at  a  rapid 
run.  "What's  to  do  here?"  they  both  asked  at 
once. 

"  If  you  have  any  right  to  know,  you  can  come 
into  the  house  an'  find  out,"  replied  Billy,  gruffly. 
"  Now  then,"  he  added,  addressing  himself  to  Wal 
ter  and  his  captors,  "you  jest  face  about  an'  walk 
back  into  that  rancho,  quicker'n  you  came  out!' 

Utterly  discouraged  and  sick  at  heart  Walter 
obeyed  the  order.  He  opened  the  door  of  the  living, 
room,  and  nearly  fell  over  the  prostrate  form  of 
Potter  who  lay  in  his  path.  "  Who's  that?"  cried 
the  giant,  starting  up.  "  Speak  quick,"  and  the 
command  was  followed  by  the  ominous  click  of  the 
lock  of  his  revolver. 

"  It's  me,"  replied  Chinny  Billy  ;  "me  an'  Leften- 
ant  Gaylord.  Wake  up,  here  !  I've  got  a  funny 
story  to  tell  you." 

Potter  was  not  long  in  springing  to  his  feet,  and 
neither  were  the  rest  of  the  trappers,  who  had  been 
aroused  by  his  voice.  One  of  them  trimmed  the 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  209 


lantern  which  had  nearly  gone  out,  and  when  they 
saw  Walter  standing  before  them  with  his  hands  and 
feet  at  liberty,  their  astonishment  knew  no  bounds, 

"  Who  done  it,  Chinny  ?  Did  he  turn  himself 
loose?  Whar  did  you  find  him?"  were  the  questions 
that  arose  on  all  sides. 

"  You'd  best  talk  to  them  as  knows  more  about  it 
than  I  do,"  replied  Billy,  moving  his  hand  toward 
Reed  and  Parks.  "  They  turned  him  loose,  an'  were 
goin'  to  steal  him  away,  but  I  stopped  'em.  I 
reckon  they  thought  that  if  they  tuk  him,  the  Colonel 
would  be  willin'  to  give  a  thousand  or  two  to  get 
him  back.  Ax'  em." 

These  words  made  the  matter  perfectly  clear  to 
Walter.  His  captors  had  laid  a  plan  to  run  him  off 
to  the  mountains,  in  order  to  demand  a  ransom  for 
him  from  a  man  supposed  to  be  his  father.  The 
howls  of  rage  that  filled  the  room  showed  that  the 
trappers  understood  it  too.  For  a  few  seconds  a 
great  uproar  prevailed.  A  general  rush  was  made 
for  the  two  traitors,  weapons  were  flourished  in  the 
air,  and  Walter,  hastily  escaping  from  the  crowd  of 
excited,  struggling  men,  turned  his  face  to  the  wall 
in  order  that  he  might  not  witness  the  scene  which 
14 


210  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

he  was  sure  was  about  to  take  place.  But  Potter's 
voice  checked  the  tumult. 

"  Stand  back,  the  hul  on  ye  !"  he  roared.  "  Don'1 
lay  a  finger  on  nary  one  on  'em.  We'll  keep  'em 
fur  the  guv'nor  to  deal  with  when  he  conies  out. 
Say,  my  cub,"  he  added,  arousing  Walter  by  a  heav^ 
slap  on  the  shoulder,  "  tell  us  all  about  it.  What's 
been  a  goin'  on  here  ?" 

Walter's  story  fully  confirmed  Chinny  Billy's, 
and  if  further  evidence  had  been  needed  the  rifles 
that  were  found  outside  the  door,  the  pieces  of  rope 
that  were  brought  from  the  lumber-room,  as  well  as 
the  statement  of  the  two  men  who  had  just  arrived, 
would  have  been  sufficient.  The  traitors  were  tried 
and  condemned  in  five  minutes'  time.  In  obedience 
to  Potter's  orders  they  were  bound  hand  and  foot, 
and  stowed  away  in  Walter's  prison  with  a  guard 
over  them.  When  this  had  been  done  the  excitement 
began  to  abate. 

"  Chinny  Billy,"  said  Potter,  "  we  owe  you  one 
fur  this." 

"  An'  you  can  pay  me  now,  if  you  like,"  was  the 
prompt  response. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?     Speak  out." 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  211 

"  The  boss  I  seed  you  ridin'  to-day,  the  black 
one." 

"  He's  your'n.  When  the  guv'nor  comes  out  an' 
I  tell  him  what  has  happened,  he'll  do  better  than 
that  by  you.  You  see  he's  in  limbo — the  colonel's 
got  him  in  irons  in  the  fort — an'  the  only  way  we 
can  get  him  out  is  to  trade  this  leftenant  fur  him. 
We'll  get  him  too,  'cause  it  ain't  no  ways  likely  that 
a  father  will  see  harm  come  to  his  own  son.  Them 
cowardly  sneaks  would  have  filled  their  own  pockets 
an'  left  the  guv'nor  to  be  hung ;  but  you  have  saved 
him,  an'  had  oughter  have  something  handsome  fur 
it.  This  leftenant  shan't  stay  here  no  longer,  how- 
somever.  If  thar's  two  traitor's  among  us,  thar  may 
be  more  fur  all  I  know.  I'm  goin'  to  pack  him  off 
among  the  Injuns  this  very  night.  I  wanted  to  do 
it  the  minute  he  came  here,  but  the  rest  of  the  fellers 
talked  agin  it,  an'  now  they  see  what's  happened. 
We  might  have  lost  him  easy,  if  it  hadn't  been  fur 
you,  Chinny  Billy.  Samson,  come  out  here." 

The  man  addressed  followed  Potter  from  the  room, 
and  Walter  seated  himself  on  one  of  the  benches  and 
waited  to  see  what  was  going  to  happen  next.  Nor 
was  he  obliged  to  wait  long.  Before  two  minutes 


212  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

had  passed,  agreat  hubbub  arose  outside  the  door. 
Hoarse  voices  uttered  ejaculations  of  wonder  and 
alarm,  and  hasty  footsteps  sounded  in  the  hall. 
Presently  the  door  was  dashed  violently  open,  and 
Potter  and  Samson  entered,  accompanied  by  a  tall, 
broad-shouldered  trapper,  and  a  stalwart,  bare 
headed  youth,  who  seemed  to  be  terribly  excited  and 
enraged  about  something. 

"  That's  him  !"  exclaimed  the  latter,  as  soon  as 
he  entered  the  room,  and  his  eyes  fell  upon  Chinny 
Billy.  u  He's  the  feller  who  stole  my  hoss  an'  my 
name,  too ;  an'  now  he  comes  here  an'  passes  him 
self  off  for  me.  He's  a  spy  !" 

Chinny  Billy  started  as  if  he  had  been  shot.  He 
stood  for  an  instant  looking  about  him  as  if  seeking 
some  way  of  escape,  and  then  with  one  swift  bound 
he  reached  the  table,  and  catching  up  the  lantern 
dashed  it  upon  the  floor,  extinguishing  the  light, 
and  leaving  the  room  shrouded  in  total  darkness. 

"  Sing  out,  Dick  !"  he  shouted. 

A  wild  Indian  yell,  so  loud  and  piercing  that  it 
seemed  to  come  from  a  score  of  throats,  echoed 
through  the  room,  and  at  the  same  instant  Walter 
was  lifted  bodily  from  the  bench  on  which  he  was 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  218 

sitting  and  thrown  under  the  table,  next  to  the 
wall.  An  answering  yell  arose  outside  the  house, 
the  door  was  burst  open  again,  lights  flashed  into 
the  room,  and  a  company  of  cavalrymen,  with 
sabres  and  revolvers  in  their  hands,  came  charg- 


214  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    MAN   IN   IRONS. 

O  LEEP  does  not  come  at  call  to  a  lot  of  healthy 
boys  when  there  is  anything  exciting  going  on, 
and  consequently  the  Club  could  not  strictly  obey 
Uncle  Dick's  order.  They  brought  the  horses  in 
from  the  prairie,  and  after  fastening  them  securely 
to  the  wagon,  rolled  themselves  up  in  their  blankets 
and  lay  down  about  the  fire ;  but  they  did  not  close 
their  eyes.  Their  senses  were  all  on  the  alert,  and 
they  were  ready  at  any  unusual  sound  to  spring  up 
and  grasp  their  weapons.  The  precautions  that  had 
been  taken  to  guard  the  camp  were  enough  to  keep 
them  wide  awake,  for  it  was  something  that  had 
never  been  done  before  during  their  journey. 
When  Frank  came  in  after  placing  Walter  on  his 
station,  he  found  the  Club  conversing  earnestly  in 
whispers,  for  fear  of  disturbing  Uncle  Dick,  who 
was  already  snoring  lustily,  and  consulting  their 
watches  every  few  minutes  with  a  great  show  of 
impatience. 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  215 

"  Did  you  see  anything  more  of  the  trappers  ?" 
asked  Eugene,  eagerly. 

"0  no,"  answered  Frank,  with  a  laugh.  "If 
they  come  back  here  at  all,  they  will  probably  take 
good  care  not  to  show  themselves." 

"  How  do  you  think  they  will  operate,  anyhow  ?" 
continued  Eugene.  "  Tell  me  all  about  it,  for  1 
am  going  on  guard  at  midnight  if  I  can  induce 
Uncle  Dick  to  let  me,  and  I  want  to  be  prepared 
for  any  tricks." 

"Why,  they  will  most  likely  come  for  our  horses. 
They  will  creep  up  to  the  wagon  through  the  grass, 
and  after  they  have  cut  the  lariats  with  which  the 
animals  are  secured,  they'll  raise  a  yell  to  stampede 
them.  During  the  confusion  that  will  be  sure  to 
follow,  they  will  take  themselves  safe  off." 

"  They  will,  eh  ?"  exclaimed  Eugene,  excitedly. 
"  I  just  hope  they'll  try  it  while  I  am  on  guard, 
and  that  I'll  catch  'em  at  it." 

"  Ah !  that's  the  thing.  The  mischief  will  all 
be  done  before  we  know  what  is  going  on." 

Frank  spent  an  hour  in  conversation  with  his 
friends,  relating  stories  of  adventures  with  Indians 
and  outlaws  which  he  had  heard  from  the  lips  of 
Dick  Lewis  and  Bob  Kelly,  and  at  the  end  of  that 


216  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

time  fatigue  began  to  tell  upon  his  auditors  in  spite 
of  their  excitement,  and  one  after  the  other  they 
dropped  asleep.  Frank  piled  more  wood  on  the 
fire,  looked  at  the  fastenings  of  the  horses,  and  went 
out  to  visit  the  guards.  He  found  Bab  alert  and 
watchful,  and  wishing,  like  Eugene,  that  if  the 
trappers  intended  to  make  a  demonstration  against 
the  stock,  they  would  do  it  while  he  was  on  guard. 
Frank  kept  him  company  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
went  out  to  see  how  Walter  was  getting  on. 
Greatly  to  his  surprise  he  could  not  find  him.  He 
looked  up  and  down  the  road,  and  over  the  prairie 
in  every  direction,  but  his  friend  was  nowhere  in 
sight. 

"Walter!"  he  cried,  "where  are  you?  Speak 
up!" 

There  was  no  response.  Filled  with  amazement 
and  alarm,  Frank  hurried  along  the  road  toward  the 
place  where  Walter  had  been  stationed,  and  on  the 
way  struck  his  foot  against  something  on  the  ground. 
He  stooped  to  examine  the  object,  and  the  feelings 
he  experienced  when  his  hand  came  in  contact  with 
a  Henry  rifle,  may  be  imagined,  but  we  cannot  des 
cribe  them.  Without  waiting  to  prosecute  his  search 
further,  he  slung  his  Maynard  over  one  shoulder, 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  217 

took  his  friend's  gun  on  the  other,  and  set  out  for 
camp  at  the  top  of  his  speed.  He  found  Uncle 
Dick  sitting  up  on  his  blanket,  filling  his  pipe  pre 
paratory  to  a  smoke.  Frank  attracted  his  attention 
by  a  cough,  and  beckoned  him  to  approach. 

"  Any  signs  of  our  friends,  the  trappers !"  asked 
the  old  sailor,  as  he  came  up.  "  Why,  what's  the 
matter  ?"  he  added,  quickly,  seeing  that  Frank  was 
very  pale  and  trembling  violently  in  every  limb. 

"  Walter-is  gone,"  was  the  almost  inaudible  reply. 

"Gone!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Dick. 

"Yes,  sir;  here's  his  rifle,"  said  Frank,  display 
ing  the  weapon  which  bore  the  letters  W.  Gr.  neatly 
carved  in  the  stock.  "  That's  all  there  is  left  of 
him." 

"  G-one  !"  repeated  the  old  sailor,  as  if  he  could 
not  quite  understand  the  meaning  of  the  word ; 
"where  ?" 

"  That  is  a  question  I  am  not  able  to  answer. 
Those  trappers  know  all  about  it." 

Uncle  Dick  stood  for  an  instant  as  if  paralyzed, 
and  then  hurried  up  the  road,  Frank  following. 
He  searched  frantically  about  in  the  grass,  and 
shouted  Walter's  name  with  all  the  power  of  his 
lungs,  but  no  answer  was  returned. 


218  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  Gone  !"  he  kept  saying  to  himself.  "  It  was  1 
who  brought  him  out  here,  and  what  shall  I  say  to 
his  father  and  mother  when  I  go  home  ?  Little  did 
I  think  that  our  excursion  would  end  in  this  way." 

"We'll  never  go  home  without  him,"  said  Frank. 
"  It  was  I  who  put  him  out  here  on  the  prairie  to 
be  captured,  and  I'll  find  him  or  I'll  never  see  Law 
rence  again." 

"Don't  reproach  yourself,"  said  Uncle  Dick. 
"  You  are  in  no  way  to  blame.  But  how  do  you 
explain  his  disappearance  ?" 

"  I  can't  explain  it.  I  only  know  that  those  two 
men  who  ate  supper  at  our  camp-fire  have  taken 
him  away." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?" 

"  In  the  first  place  the  conversation  one  of  them 
had  with  Walter  was  enough  to  excite  my  suspicions, 
and  I  told  him  to  be  careful  and  not  allow  any  one 
to  approach  him.  We  can  find  no  signs  that  he  had 
been  killed,  he  would  not  voluntarily  throw  down 
his  rifle  and  leave  his  post,  consequently  he  must 
have  been  taken  away  by  force.  Now,  who  could 
have  had  any  object  in  making  a  prisoner  of  him 
except  those  visitors  of  ours  ?" 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  219 

:  And  what  object  could  they  possibly  have  ? 
They  never  saw  Walter  before." 

"  I  know  that ;  but  they  took  him  for  somebody 
se — some  one,  too,  whom  they  have  reason  to  fear  ; 
r  you  know  Walter  said  that  when  they  first  saw 
an,  they  put  their  hands  on  their  weapons  as  if 
xpecting  an  attack  from  them.  Don't  you  remem- 
3r?" 

"  Yes,  I  recall  the  circumstance.  But  what  shall 
e  do?" 

"  I  think  our  best  plan  would  be  to  start  without 

minute's  delay  for  Fort  Bolton.     You  know  the 

ast  emigrants  we  met  told  us  that  the  fort  is  only  a 

undred  miles  from  the  foot  of  the  mountains.     We 

an  easily  travel  that  distance  in  twenty-four  hours." 

"  And  what  shall  we  do  when  we  get  there  ?" 

"  We'll  tell  the  commanding  officer  what  has 
appened,  and  ask  his  advice  and  assistance.  He 
nay  be  able  to  recognise  these  men  from  the  de- 
cription  we  will  give  him,  and  tell  us  where  to  look 
or  them." 

This  was  exactly  the  course  the  old  sailor  had 
Iready  resolved  upon.  His  ideas  concerning  his 
lephew's  disappearance  corresponded  with  Frank's 
n  every  particular.  The  only  cue  the  two  had  was 


220  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  conduct  of  the  trappers  at  their  camp-fire.  From 
this  they  reasoned,  and  reached  conclusions  which 
we  know  to  be  correct.  Together  they  returned  to 
the  camp,  and  while  Frank  harnessed  the  mules  and 
hitched  them  to  the  wagon,  Uncle  Dick  called  in 
Bab  and  aroused  the  Club,  telling  them  in  a  few 
hurried  words  what  had  happened.  Of  course  the 
greatest  consternation  prevailed,  but  no  time  was 
wasted  in  asking  questions.  Each  boy  sprang  to 
his  horse,  and  in  five  minutes'  time  their  camp  be 
hind  the  hill  was  deserted,  and  the  little  cavalcade, 
led  by  Frank  and  Archie,  was  travelling  at  the  rate 
of  ten  miles  an  hour  along  the  road  in  the  direction 
of  Fort  Bolton. 

"  I  can't  see  into  the  matter  any  farther  than  I 
have  already  explained  it  to  you,"  said  Frank,  in 
reply  to  a  question  from  his  cousin,  "  but  this  much 
I  am  certain  of :  If  I  had  not  put  Walter  out  there 
on  the  prairie,  he  would  not  have  been  captured; 
consequently  the  fault  lies  at  my  door,  and  I'll  make 
amends  for  it  sooner  or  later." 

Frank  said  this  very  quietly — in  much  the  same 
tone  of  voice  that  he  would  have  remarked,  "  I  hope 
it  will  be  a  cloudy  day  to-morrow  so  that  we  can  go 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  221 

trout-fishing — "  but  Archie  knew  that  there  was  a 
volume  of  meaning  in  it. 

During  the  journey  nothing  was  talked  about  but 
the  subject  uppermost  in  their  minds',  and  but  little 
was  said  about  that ;  for  no  one  had  any  suggestions 
to  make,  or  any  new  explanations  to  offer.  They 
could  only  wonder  exceedingly  and  wait  for  some 
thing  to  turn  up.  Besides,  during  the  halts,  which 
were  frequent  but  short,  they  all  improved  the  time 
in  trying  to  obtain  a  wink  of  sleep  ;  and  while  they 
were  on  the  road  Frank,  who  was  always  in  advance, 
and  whose  muscles  never  seemed  to  tire,  led  the  way 
at  such  a  rate  that  continued  conversation  was  im 
possible.  Once  during  the  next  day  Archie  did 
manage  to  find  a  few  moments  in  which  to  relate  to 
his  particular  friend,  Featherweight,  the  story  of  his 
"  Wild  Ride"  from  the  mountains  to  Fort  Benton, 
on  the  night  the  Indians  attacked  the  emigrant  train, 
and  Mr.  Brecker  came  so  near  being  robbed  of  his 
money.  The  journey  they  were  now  making  was 
well  calculated  to  recall  to  his  mind  the  thrilling  in 
cidents  connected  with  that  night  of  excitement  and 
peril. 

Our  travellers  were  two  days  on  the  road  instead 
of  one.  On  the  first,  while  the  boy  of  whom  they 


222  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

were  in  search,  was  journeying  with  his  captors  from 
the  camp   in  the    cottonwoods  to    Potter's    rancho 
among  the  hills,  they  were  riding  post  haste  toward 
the  fort.     On  the  second,  while  Walter  was  confined 
in  the  living-room  of  the  rancho,  waiting  with   no 
little  anxiety  to  learn  what  was  to  be  done  with  him, 
his  friends  were  wandering  about  over  the  prairie, 
having  lost   their  way  during  the  previous  night. 
Long  before  this   time   Uncle  Dick   and   his  party 
began  to  feel  the  eifects   of  their  ride.     The   old 
sailor,  who  always  drove  the  wagon,  had  swung  his 
heavy  whip  until  every  muscle  in   his  brawny  arm 
ached  with  fatigue,  while  the  boys,  almost  ready  to 
drop,  twisted  about  in  their  saddles,  rode  sideways, 
and  even  dismounted  now  and  then  and  ran   along 
beside  their  horses  to  rest  themselves.     Their  foot 
sore  and  jaded  animals  moved  slower   and   slower 
with  every  weary  mile  they  covered,  Frank's  alone 
excepted.    The  scraggy,  ill-conditioned  Indian  pony, 
as  tireless  as  the  rider  he  bore,  went  ahead  as  will 
ingly  as  ever,  and  the   boys    were    obliged    to    use 
whip  and  spur  continually  in  order  to  keep  him  in 
sight.     He  checked  his  pace  for  no  obstacle.     About 
nine  o'clock   that   night,  while   the  travellers   were 
crossing  a  deep   and  rapid   stream,  Frank's  saddle 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  223 

girth  broke,  and  he  was  thrown  headlong  into  th<& 
water ;  but  he  did  not  stop  to  repair  damages,  or  to 
recover  his  hat  which  floated  off  with  the  current. 
He  clung  to  his  horse,  and  when  the  opposite  shore 
was  reached,  pitched  his  weapons  and  saddle  into 
the  wagon,  and  rode  the  remainder  of  the  journey 
bare-back.  But  they  had  not  much  farther  to  go. 
By  the  time  they  were  fairly  under  way  again,  they 
were  brought  to  a  stand-still  by  a  voice  in  front  of 
them.  "  Halt !"  was  the  command.  "Who  comes 
there?" 

"  We've  found  the  fort  at  last!"  exclaimed  the 
Club,  one  and  all,  drawing  a  long  breath  of  relief. 

"  Talk  to  him,  Frank,"  said  Uncle  Dick. 

Frank  shouted  out  the  word  "  Excursionists  ;" 
whereupon  the  voice  commanded  them  to  dismount, 
and  one  excursionist  to  advance  and  make  known 
his  business.  They  all  obeyed  the  first  part  of  the 
order,  and  Frank  hurried  up  the  road  to  comply 
with  the  second.  When  he  had  gone  a  few  yards 
he  found  himself  confronted  by  a  bayonet,  which 
was  pointed  straight  at  his  breast.  There  was  light 
enough  for  him  to  see  that  the  man  who  held  the 
weapon  was  dressed  in  Uncle  Sam's  blue.  "  Now, 


224  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

then,"  said  the  sentry,   "who  are  you,  and  where 
are  you  going  in  such  a  hurry  at  this  time  of  night  ?" 

"  As  I  told  you,  we  are  excursionists.  We  came 
out  here  to  hunt  and  see  the  country,  and  are  now 
trying  to  find  Fort  Bolton.  Is  that  it?"  asked 
Frank,  pointing  to  something  on  the  summit  of  a 
hill  close  by,  which  looked  to  him  like  a  stockade. 
The  sentry  replied  that  it  was. 

"  Well,  we  have  important  business  with  the  com 
mander,  and  must  see  him  at  once.  We  are  in 
trouble." 

"Corporal  of  the  guard,  number  five!"  shouted 
the  soldier. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  corporal  made  his  appearance, 
and  after  inquiring  how  many  men  there  were  in 
Frank's  party,  and  listening  to  what  he  had  already 
told  the  sentry,  informed  him  that  he  and  his  friends 
might  drive  up  to  the  gate,  where  they  would  find 
the  officer  of  the  day,  who  would  take  their  case  in 
hand.  Frank  hurried  back  to  his  impatient  com 
panions,  and  in  ten  minutes  more  the  wagon  was 
drawn  up  under  the  walls  of  the  fort,  and  its  tired 
escort  were  rolling  about  on  the  grass  trying  to  find 
an  easy  position  for  their  aching  limbs — all  except 
Frank.  He  seized  the  opportunity  to  make  somo 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  225 

hurried  improvements  in  his  dress,  exchanging  his 
wet  clothing  for  a  suit  he  had  never  worn  before, 
and  replacing  his  lost  hat  by  another  which  he  had 
provided  for  just  such  an  emergency.  While  he 
was  thus  engaged  Uncle  Dick  had  explained  to  the 
officer  of  the  day  as  much  of  their  circumstances  as 
he  thought'  it  necessary  he  should  know,  and  the 
latter  had  departed  to  lay  the  matter  before  the 
Colonel.  Presently  he  returned  with  the  request  that 
Uncle  Dick  would  follow  him  to  the  commandant's 
quarters.  As  the  old  sailor  moved  away  with  the 
officer  he  beckoned  to  Frank,  who  fell  in  behind,  and 
the  two  were  conducted  through  the  gate  and  into  a 
comfortable  apartment,  where  they  found  a  tall  gen 
tleman  with  side  whiskers  and  mustache,  who  placed 
chairs  for  them  as  they  entered,  and  politely  asked 
how  he  could  serve  them. 

"  I  shall  give  you  my  story  in  the  fewest  possible 
words,"  said  Uncle  Dick,  "  for  time  is  precious.  In 
the  first  place  I  should  like  to  know  if  there  is  a 
gentleman  in  this  region  known  as  Colonel  Gaylord." 

u  There  is,"  replied  the  commandant.  "  I  am  the 
man." 

"  Then,  sir,  I  wish  most  heartily  that  you  had  been 
called  Smith  or  Jones,  or  else  that  I  had,  for  the 
15 


226  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

name  we  both  bear  has  got  me  and  one  of  my 
nephews  into  serious  difficulty,"  said  Uncle  Dick ; 
and  without  heeding  the;  look  of  astonishment  on  the 
Colonel's  face,  he  went  on  to  tell  who  he  and  his 
young  companions  were,  where  they  had  come  from, 
where  they  intended  to  go,  described  the  two  trap 
pers  who  had  visited  their  camp  in  the  mountains, 
repeated  the  questions  they  had  propounded  to 
Walter,  and  related  the  particulars  of  the  latter's 
sudden  disappearance. 

fc'  Of  this  much  I  am  positive,"  said  the  old  sailor, 
in  conclusion,  "and  that  is,  that  those  men  made  a 
prisoner  of  my  nephew  under  the  impression  that  he 
was  somebody  else ;  but  beyond  that  all  is  dark  to 
me.  Who  the  men  were,  who  they  thought  Walter 
was,  why  they  captured  him  and  what  they  intend 
to  do  with  him,  are  questions  I  cannot  answer." 

The  commandant  listended  attentively  to  every 
word  Uncle  Dick  had  to  say,  and  as  the  story  pro 
gressed  his  face  gradually  assumed  an  expression 
which  said  as  plainly  as  words  that  some  of  the  things 
which  seem  so  mysterious  to  Uncle  Dick,  could  be 
easily  explained.  When  the  latter  concluded  he 
expressed  his  surprise  and  gratification  at  meeting 
with  one  who  bore  the  same  name  as  himself,  prom- 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  227 

ised  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  assist  him  in  finding 
the  missing  boy,  and  ended  by  calling  out :  "  Or 
derly,  tell  Wallace  I  want  to  see  him." 

The  orderly  slammed  the  door  which,  however, 
was  almost  immediately  opened  again,  admitting  a 
military-looking  fellow  in  high  boots  and  gray  jeans 
suit,  who,  as  he  entered,  removed  from  his  head  a 
wide-brimmed  felt  hat. 

"  Captain  Gaylord,  this  is  my  son,  Lieutenant 
Wallace  Gaylord  ;  Wat,  we  call  him,  for  short. 
Can  you  see  any  resemblance  between  him  and 
your  lost  nephew  ?" 

"Not  the  slightest,"  answered  Uncle  Dick,  after 
he  had  returned  the  young  soldier's  greeting  and 
presented  Frank  to  him.  "  He  is  considerably 
taller  and  stronger,  at  least  a  dozen  years  older, 
and  looks  altogether  about  as  much  like  Walter  as 
a  sloop-of-war  looks  like  a  jolly-boat." 

The  Lieutenant  helping  himself  to  a  chair,  looked 
first  at  his  father  and  then  at  the  visitors,  as  if  to 
say  that  he  would  be  glad  to  know  what  they  were 
talking  about,  while  a  puzzled  and  disappointed  ex 
pression  settled  on  the  Colonel's  face.  With  a  few 
rapid  words  he  made  his  son  acquainted  with  the 
circumstances  which  had  brought  LTricle  Dick  and 


228  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

his  friends  to  the  fort,  adding  :  "  I  was  sure  I  could 
explain  everything,  but  it  seems  I  can't.  I  thought 
it  probable  that  this  missing  boy  had  been  mistaken 
for  you.  Their  names  are  nearly  alike,  you  know, 
captain." 

"Yes,  but  they  don't  look  alike,"  said  Uncle 
Dick.  "  One  who  had  seen  the  Lieutenant  could 
never  mistake  my  nephew  for  him." 

"  Mr.  Gaylord,"  said  Frank,  suddenly,  an  idea 
striking  him,  "  may  I  be  so  bold  as  to  ask  if  you 
have  done  anything  to  render  yourself  obnoxious  to 
a  certain  class  of  men  about  here?" 

"I  certainly  have,"  replied  the  Lieutenant,  with 
a  smile.  "  I  can  boast  of  more  enemies  than  any 
other  fellow  in  the  fort." 

"You  see,"  chimed  in  the  Colonel,  by  way  of 
explanation ;  "  we  have  been  having  considerable 
trouble  with  an  organized  band  of  men  who  call 
themselves  trappers  and  buffalo  hunters,  but  who  are 
in  reality  rascals  of  the  very  worst  description.  They 
not  only  rob  coaches  and  emigrants  at  every  oppor 
tunity,  but  they  are  continually  spreading  dissatis 
faction  among  the  Indians.  We  can't  keep  peace 
on  the  frontier  so  long  as  these  men  exist,  nnd  we 
are  doing  our  best  to  get  rid  of  them.  We've  made 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  229 

a  beginning  by  capturing  their  leader.  Wat  did  it, 
and  of  course  the  band  are  highly  enraged  at  him." 

"  Now,"  continued  Frank,  following  up  his  point : 
"  do  these  men  know  you  personally  ?  Would  they 
recognise  you  anywhere  ?" 

"  Yes,  every  one  of  them  would ;  especially  if  I 
had  these  clothes  on." 

"  That  is  just  what  I  wanted  to  get  at,"  said 
Frank.  "  My  friend,  the  night  he  disappeared,  was 
dressed  exactly  as  you  are  now,  hat,  boots  and  all. 
If  you  and  he  had  purchased  your  outfits  at  the  same 
place  and  at  the  same  time,  they  could  not  have  been 
nearer  alike." 

"  Then  the  matter  is  not  so  difficult  of  explanation 
after  all,"  said  the  commandant.  u  The  opinion  I 
first  formed  was  the  right  one.  The  suspicions  of 
your  visitors  were  first  aroused  by  the  sight  of  your 
nephew's  clothes  ;  and  when  they  found  that  his  name 
is  Gaylord,  and  that  his  father  sometimes  answers  to 
the  title  of  Colonel,  their  suspicions  were  confirmed. 
When  they  made  off  with  him,  they  did  it  believing 
that  they  had  secured  my  son." 

"  I  understand  the  matter  now,"  said  Uncle  Dick, 
"  and  it  was  very  stupid  in  me  not  to  see  through  it 
before.  Frank,  your  head  is  worth  two  of  mine. 


230  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  OLUB 

Do  you  recognise  the  men  from  the  description  I 
have  given  of  them  ?" 

UI  do  not,"  replied  the  Colonel,  "and  even  if  I 
did,  I  could  not  assist  you.  These  rascals  hang  out 
somewhere,  but  where  I  don't  know;  and  with  all 
the  help  I've  got,  I  have  not  yet  boon  able  to  find 
out.  They  may  be  hidden  among  the  hills  within 
five  miles  of  the  fort,  and  they  may  be  a  hundred 
miles  away.  But  I  can  offer  you  a  word  of  encour 
agement.  Your  nephew  has  doubtless  been  taken 
to  the  head-quarters  of  the  band,  to  be  held  as  a  hos 
tage  for  their  leader,  whom  I  have  here  in  the  fort 
under  guard.  If  that  is  the  ease,  no  harm  will  be 
done  him.  More  than  that,  I  shall  hear  from  him 
in  a  day  or  two,  and  then  I  will  see  what  can  be 
done." 

"  Is  this  all  you  have  to  say  to  me  ?''  cried  Uncle 
Dick.  u  The  idea  of  hearing  nothing  from  Walter 
for  even  a  day  or  two  is  more  than  I  can  endure. 
Can  you  do  nothing  for  him  at  once — to-night  ?" 

Nothing  whatever.  If  my  own  son  was  in  his 
situation,  I  could  not  lift  a  finger  for  him.  If  you 
will  tell  me  where  those  men  have  taken  him,  I  will 
have  a  squad  of  cavalry  after  them  in  less  than  five 
minutes." 


AMONU    TI1K   TRAPPKRK. 

"  I  Buppose  you  would  have  no  difficulty  in  recog 
nising  the  men  who  captured  your  nephew,"  said 
the  Lieutenant. 

"None  in  the  world,"  answered  Uncle  Dick.  "  I 
could  pick  them  out  among  a  thousand." 

"  Well,  now,  it  in  barely  possible  that  our  new 
prisoner  may  be  one  of  the  guilty  ones,"  continued 
the  Lieutenant.  "  A  couple  of  these  buffalo  hunters 
have  been  skirmishing  about  the  fort  all  day,  with 
out  any  apparent  object  in  view,  and  just  before 
dark  the  herders  took  after  them  and  gobbled  one — 
Brazeli,  he  calls  himself— but  his  companion  escaped. 
It  wouldn't  do  any  harm  for  the  gentlemen  to  go 
out  and  take  a  look  at  him,  would  it,  father  ?" 

"'None  at  all.     You  can  go  with  them." 

Uncle  Dick  and  Frank  followed  the  young  officer 
from  the  room,  and  presently  found  themselves  in 
front  of  a  small,  dilapidated-looking  building  which 
stood  in  one  corner  of  the  fort.  Frank  looked  at  it 
in  astonishment,  and  wondered  if  it  could  be  possi 
ble  that  this  tumble-down  structure  W*§  iwed  as  the 
guard-house.  It  was  built  of  rough  boards,  which 
had  been  warped  and  twisted  by  the  sun,  until  the 
cracks  between  them  were  almost  wide  enough  to 
allow  of  the  passage  of  an  ordinary-sized  man. 


232  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

More   than  that,  there  was   not  a  sentry  in   sight 
of  it. 

"Humph!"  exclaimed  Uncle  Dick  ;  "  you  don't 
intend  to  keep  your  prisoners  long,  I  should  say." 

"  Yes,  we  do  !"  replied  the  Lieutenant,  quickly. 
"  We've  never  had  any  escape  us  yet.  There's  only 
one  in  here,  and  when  you  see  him  you'll  think  we 
mean  to  keep  him  safe,  for  he's  in  irons  and  chained 
to  the  floor.  That's  the  guard-house,"  he  added, 
pointing  to  a  cabin  built  of  heavy  logs  and  provided 
with  grated  windows,  "but  we've  got  Allen  in  there, 
and  as  we  did  not  think  it  quite  safe  to  confine  two 
such  characters  together,  we  put  Brazell  in  here." 

The  Lieutenant  found  a  lantern  and  opened  the 
door,  ushering  his  companions  into  the  house,  which 
contained  but  one  room.  In  the  middle  of  the  floor 
was  a  rude  couch,  consisting  of  a  pile  of  straw  with 
a  blanket  spread  over  it.  Beside  the  bed  was  a  box, 
and  on  it  sat  a  man  of  herculean  frame,  with  irons 
on  his  wrists  and  ankles.  Attached  to  these  irons 
were  two  heavy  chains,  which  were  made  fast  to  a 
staple  driven  into  the  floor.  The  prisoner  look  de 
fiantly  at  his  visitors  as  they  entered. 

"  This  is  Brazell,"  said  the  Lieutenant,  raising 
his  lantern,  and  allowing  its  rays  to  fall  full  on  the 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  233 

man's    face    and   figure.     "  Was   he   one    of  your 
visitors  ?" 

"  No,"  replied  Uncle  Dick,  at  once.  "  They  were 
villains  on  the  face  or  them  ;  but  this  is  an  honest- 
looking  fellow,  too  much  so  to  have  anything  to  do 
with  outlaws." 

"  By  all  accounts  he's  one  of  the  worst  of  the  lot," 
said  the  young  officer.  "  We  made  a  lucky  haul 
when  we  caught  him  and  Allen." 

Frank  said  nothing.  At  that  moment  he  could 
not  have  uttered  a  word  to  save  his  life.  There  was 
something  about  the  prisoner  that  riveted  his  gaze 
and  excited  his  astonishment  the  moment  he  caught' 
sight  of  him  ;  and  the  nearer  he  approached  to  him 
the  more  astounded  he  became.  He  had  seen  the 
man  before.  The  buckskin  shirt  which  covered  his 
massive  shoulders,  his  leggins,  moccasins,  and  even 
the  belt  that  encircled  his  waist,  were  all  of  the  same 
pattern  as  those  he  had  seen  worn  by  one  whom  he 
never  could  forget.  The  steel-gray  eye  which  looked 
squarely  into  his  own  and  lost  its  defiant  glitter  the 
[moment  it  rested  on  him,  was  the  same  too ;  and 
|not  a  line  or  wrinkle  had  been  added  to  the  bronzed 
and  weather-beaten  face  during  the  six  years  and 
more  that  had  elapsed  since  he  and  Archie  stood  on 


234  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  deck  of  the  steamer  in  the  harbor  of  San  Diego, 
and  bade  this  same  man  good-bye,  previous  to  their 
departure  for  the  States.  He  was  certain  he  could 
not  be  mistaken.  The  prisoner  was  none  other  than 
his  old  friend,  Dick  Lewis,  the  trapper.  The  recog 
nition  was  mutual.  Dick  jumped  to  his  feet,  his 
chains  clanking  as  he  arose,  and  stared  hard  at 
Frank,  who  fell  back  a  step  or  two  and  leaned 
against  the  wall  for  support.  "  I  didn't  think  to 
meet  you  agin,  youngster,"  said  the  trapper,  at 
length. 

"  I  had  hoped  to  meet  you,  Dick,"  was  the  reply, 
"but  not  in  a  situation  like  this." 

"  What !"  exclaimed  the  old  sailor,  greatly  amazed. 
"Do  you  know  this  outlaw,  Frank?  It  can't  be 
possible  that  this  is  the  renowned  Dick  Lewis,  your 
model  of  integrity  and  honesty  !" 

"Yes,  it  is,"  answered  Frank,  arousing  himself 
and  advancing  with  outstretched  hand  toward  the 
trapper  ;  "  and  he's  no  outlaw,  either.  You're  the 
same  Dick  Lewis  I  used  to  know,  are  you  not  ?  You 
don't  belong  to  this  band  of  robbers,  do  you?" 

"  Why,  he's  the  second  in  authority  among  them !" 
exclaimed  the  Lieutenant. 

"  You  may  have  been  told  so.  but  it  is  false,"  re- 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  235 

urned  Frank,  with  energy.  "I'll  never  believe  it 
mtil  you  say  so,  Dick.  Speak  out.  I  know  you 
vill  tell  me  nothing  but  the  truth  !" 

The  trapper  took  his  young  friend's  sturdy  hand 
n  his  horny  palm,  arid  his  fingers  closed  over  it 
vith  almost  crushing  force.     For  a  moment  the  two 
>tood  gazing  into  each  other's  eyes,  and  Uncle  Dick 
ind  the  Lieutenant  looked  first  at  them  and  then  at 
toi.jme  another,  and  waited  and  wondered. 
alj    "Ah,  youngster,"  said  the  prisoner,  shaking  his 
ipead  slowly  ;  "  you  don't  know  what's  been  agoin' 
yln  in  this  yere  country  since  you  left  it.     Them 
railroads  have  come  through  here,  jest  as  I  told  you 
llhey  would;  folks  from  the  States  have  come  flockin' 
bean,  an'  settlin',  an'  killin'  the  buifaler  by  thousands, 
iAn'  now  thar    ain't  elbow-room  fur  sich   fellers  as 
jme,  nor  grub  nuther." 

if ;j    "  That's  no  reason  why  you  should  turn   Indian 
l|ind  fight  men  of  your  own  race,  is  it  ?"  demanded 
!  Frank.     "  Are  you  a  member  of  this  band  ?     That's 
i  jvhat  I  want  you  to  tell  me." 

1    "I  'spect  I  am,"  was  the  astounding  reply. 
. 
"Now,  I   hope  you  are  satisfied,  Frank,"  said 

Uncle  Dick.  "Let's  go.  I've  been  here  long 
mough." 


236  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Frank  had  not  another  word  to  say.  He  turnei 
on  his  heel  and  was  about  to  move  off  with  his  com 
panions,  when  the  trapper  stopped  them. 

"Say,  Leftenant!"  he  exclaimed,  "  I'd  like  t< 
have  you  leave  that  youngster  here  fur  a  few  minutes 
I've  got  a  word  to  say  in  his  ear  that  '11  do  some 
body  some  good,  mebbe." 

"  You'll  have  to  speak  to  the  Colonel  about  that,' 
replied  the  young  officer,  shortly. 

"  Wai  now,  jest  look  a  here :  how  can  I  speak  to 
the  Colonel  without  goin'  whar  he  is ;  an'  how  can  I 
do  that  while  you  keep  me  chained  fast  to  the  floor  ?" 

"  I'll  speak  to  him,  Dick,"  said  Frank. 

"  It  will  be  of  no  use,  Mr.  Nelson,"  returned  the 
Lieutenant.  "You  know  yourself  that  it  wouldn't 
be  just  the  thing  to  allow  a  stranger  to  have  a  private 
interview  with  a  man  like  this." 

"  I  don't  care ;  I'll  ask  the  Colonel,  anyhow.; 
He  can't  do  more  than  refuse  me." 

Without  the  faintest  hope  that  his  request  would 
be  granted,  Frank  hurried  at  once  to  the  presence 
of  the  commander  and  made  known  his  wishes. 
That  officer  seemed  somewhat  surprised  at  his 
request,  but  he  took  the  matter  very  coolly,  and 
listened  with  a  good-humored  smile  on  his  face  whilq 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  237 

Frank   made   known    his   reasons    for   asking   the 
favor. 

"  He  may  have  been  an  honest  fellow  once,"  said 
fthe  Colonel,  when  Frank  ceased  speaking  ;  "  but 
pehas  been  keeping  bad  company  of  late." 

"  It  is  a  hard  matter  for  one  to  think  ill  of  a  man 
Jvho  has  saved  his  life  and  befriended  him  on  a 
thousand  occasions,"  returned  Frank.  "  I  will  give 
tarn  this  promise :  I  will  use  every  means  in  my 
(bower  to  induce  him  to  tell  me  all  he  knows  of  his 
Irnnd,  and  any  information  he  may  give  me  I  will 
repeat  to  you." 

"  Very  good.  Wallace,"  said  the  Colonel,  address- 
ng  his  son,  who  came  in  at  that  moment,  "  Mr. 
kelson  has  permission  to  spend  half  an  hour  with 
3razell." 

The  young  officer  was  plainly  very  much  surprised, 
mt  he  made  no  remark.  He  conducted  Frank 
>ack  to  the  house  in  which  the  trapper  was  confined, 
rave  him  the  lantern  and  locked  him  in. 


238  -2HE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FRANK    STEALS    A    HORSE.  ' 

T7RANK  was  surprised  at  the  change  that  had 
come  over  the  trapper  during  the  last  few  min 
utes.  He  was  the  old  Dick  Lewis  now.  His  face 
was  all  wrinkled  up  with  smiles,  and  he  looked  as 
jolly  and  happy  as  Frank  had  ever  seen  him.  The 
first  words  he  uttered  surprised  him  still  more. 
"  Youngster,"  he  exclaimed,  holding  his  visitor  fasl 
with  one  hand  and  slapping  him  on  the  shoulder 
with  the  other.  "  I  knowed  you'd  come  back  if  you 
told  the  Colonel  I  wanted  to  see  you.  He'll  do  any 
thing  I  ask  him." 

"  He  will  ?"  exclaimed  Frank. 

"  In  course,  'cause  I'm  workin'  fur  him.  It  does 
me  a  power  of  good  to  see  you.  It  seems  like  ok 
times.  You've  growcd  monstrous,  hain't  you! 
You're  a'most  as  big  as  I  am.  Are  you  as  lively 
on  your  legs  as  ever?  I  hain't  forgot,  the  way  you 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  239 

tuk  the  shine  out  of  that  young  Injun  the  day  you 
an'  him  run  that  foot-race." 

"  I  haven't  forgotten  it  either,  Dick,"  answered 
Frank,  "  or  the  long  string  of  exciting  events  that 
grew  out  of  it.  But  I  don't  want  to  talk  about  such 
things  now.  How  came  you  here?" 

"  You  never  thought  to  see  your  ole  friend  chained 
up  like  a  wild  beast,  or  to  larn  that  the  man  who 
had  slept  at  the  same  camp-fire  with  you  an'  the 
leetle  'un  an'  Uncle  Jeemes,  an'  tramped  with  you 
fur  so  many  days  through  the  mountains,  would  come 
to  this,  did  you  ?" 

"  No,  I  didn't  ;  and  I  don't  understand  it  at  all." 

"  It  done  me  proud  to  hear  you  tell  the  Leftenai.t 
an'  that  ole  chap  who  came  in  with  you  a  while  ago 
that  you  knowed  I  wasn't  an  outlaw,  'cause  it  showed 
that  you  couldn't  think  hard  of  me.  Wai,  don't  let 
it  worry  you.  I  hain't  no  more  a  pris'ner  here  nor 
you  be!" 

"You're  not?"  exclaimed  Frank. 

"  Sartin  I  hain't.  Do  you  'spose  that  if  I  was 
the  kind  of  fellow  the  soldiers  think  I  be,  the  Colonel 
would  let  you  come  in  here  an'  talk  to  me,  or  that 
he  would  put  me  in  sich  a  place  as  this  ?  I  could 
get  out  an'  not  half  try.  See  here  !" 


240  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

As  the  trapper  said  this  he  seized  his  chains  with 
both  hands,  drew  in  a  long  breath,  squared  himself 
for  a  strong  pull,  and  exerting  'all  the  strength  for 
which  he  was  so  noted,  tore  the  staple  with  which 
the  chains  were  made  fast  to  the  floor,  out  of  the 
yielding  planks  with  a  single  wrench. 

"  Now,"  he  added,  smiling  at  the  look  of  aston 
ishment  on  Frank's  face,  and  shaking  himself  like  a 
Newfoundland  dog  just  emerging  from  the  water, 
"  I'm  a  free  man.  See  them  two  winders  ?  they're 
fastened  with  nothing  but  hasps.  Couldn't  I  easy 
open  one  of  'em  an'  cl'ar  myself?  An'  'sposin  thar 
wasn't  no  winders  in  the  house  !  I  could  bust  down 
that  door  with  one  kick,  an'  afore  them  soldiers  out 
thar  could  tell  what  was  goin'  on,  I  could  be  out  of 
the  gate  an'  a  hundred  yards  away.  I  can  run  jest 
as  fast  as  I  ever  could." 

"  But  even  if  you  succeeded  in  escaping,  you 
would  still  have  the  irons  about  your  wrists  and 
ankles,"  said  Frank. 

"Would  I?"  exclaimed  Dick,  putting  his  hand 
into  his  pocket  and  pulling  out  a  key ;  "  I  reckon 
not.  Here's  the  thing  that  unlocks  these  irons,  an' 
mebbe  you'll  open  your  eyes  when  I  tell  you  that 
the  Colonel  give  it  to  me  himself." 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  241 

Frank  did  open  his  eyes  and  his  mouth,  too. 

"  The  Colonel!"  he  repeated. 

"  In  course  ;  nobody  else.  When  the  soldiers 
brought  me  here  an'  chained  me  to  the  floor,  the 
Colonel  comes  in  an'  whispers  to  me :  '  Have  you 
learnt  anythin'  yet,  Dick  ?'  i  Yes,'  says  I,  i  I've 
learnt  all  I  want  to  know;  but  I  hain't  quite  ready 
fur  business  yet.'  'All  right,'  says  he,  '  here's  the 
key  to  turn  yourself  loose  with.  When  you  git 
tired  of  stayin'  here,  cl'ar  yourself,  an'  don't  be 
ketched  agin.' 

"Dick!"  exclaimed  Frank,  "I  can't  make  head 
or  tail  of  what  you  are  saying." 

u  Easy  !  easy  !  You  want  to  hear  my  story,  don't 
you  ?  Wai,  I  can't  tell  it  in  one  word,  so  you  must 
give  me  time.  But  it's  hard  work  talkin'  without 
a  pipe,  so  I'll  blow  a  cloud  if  you'll  lend  me  your 
knife.  The  soldiers  tuk  mine  away  from  me." 

As  Frank  handed  out  his  knife,  Dick  produced 
a  plug  of  tobacco  from  the  capacious  pocket  of 
his  hunting-shirt,  and  while  cutting  off  enough  to 
fill  his  pipe,  began  his  story. 

"  As  I  told  you  when  you  fust  come  in,  youngster, 
things  ain't  as  they  used  to  be  out  here,"  said  he. 
!i  Thar  was  bad  men  enough  on  the  prairy  years  ago, 
16 


242  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

but  it's  wusser  now  that  the  railroads  have  come  in. 
They  brought  with  'em  a  good  many  things  I  never 
heern  tell  on  afore,  an'  among  others  a  lot  of  the 
meanest  men  in  the  world.  They  call  themselves 
bullaler  hunters.  They  live  in  dugouts,  an'  spend 
all  their — " 

"  Dugouts  !"  interrupted  Frank.  "  Canoes  ?" 
"  No,  houses  built  mostly  under  ground.  You 
see  these  buffaler  hunters  are  a  lazy,  shiftless  set 
— you  couldn't  expect  nothing  else  of  men  who 
foller  sich  business — an'  don't  care  how  they  live. 
I  never  seed  an  Injun  teepee  look  so  mean  as  the 
inside  of  their  dugouts.  They're  a  hard  lot,  too, 
an'  wouldn't  think  no  more  of  way  lay  in'  you  if  they 
knowed  you  had  a  dollar  in  your  pocket,  than  they 
would  of  knockin'  over  an  antelope  fur  breakfast. 
Durin'  the  last  year  thar's  been  a  settlement  of  'em 
about  forty  miles  from  the  fort,  an'  the  piles  of  hides 
an'  bones  they  used  to  bring  into  Sargent  station 
was  a  caution  to  sich  fellers  as  me  an'  ole  Bob, 
They  shoot  the  buffaler  at  all  times  of  the  year, 
no  difference  whether  the  critter  is  fat  or  lean,  strip 
off  the  hide,  leave  the  meat  to  the  wolves,  an'  when 
the  bones  are  picked  clean,  they  go  round  an'  gather 
'em  up.  The  hides  they  sell  to  the  traders,  an'  the 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  243 

bones  they  ship  off  to  the  States  on  the  railroad. 
Now  hain't  that  a  purty  way  to  do  business  ?  If 
they  keep  on,  it  won't  be  long  afore  buffaler  will 
be  as  hard  to  find  on  the  prairy  as  wild-grouse  are 
in  the  streets  of  Frisco.  They  don't  make  nothing 
at  the  business  nuther.  A  dollar  apiece  fur  the 
hides,  an'  a  dollar  fur  a  ton  of  bones,  is  all  they  git, 
an'  that  don't  do  'em  no  good,  'cause  they  spend  the 
last  cent  of  it  in  drinkin'  an'  gamblin'  ;  an'  then 
quarrel  an'  fight  among  themselves  until  two  or 
three,  or  a  half  a  dozen  of  'em  mebbe,  are  rubbed 
out,  an'  the  rest  go  back  to  their  dugouts  an'  begin 
work  agin.  It  wouldn't  be  so  bad  if  they  would 
only  keep  their  meanness  to  themselves,  'cause  arter 
a  while  they  would  be  cleaned  off  the  face  of  the 
'arth,  just  as  they  are  tryin'  to  do  with  the  buffaler, 
which  would  be  a  blessin' ;  but  they  won't  do  it. 
They  can't  rest  easy  without  botherin'  them  as  minds 
their  own  business  an  tries  to  'arn  an  honest  livin. 

"  The  head  man  of  the  settlement  I  was  a  speakin' 
of  was  Bob  Allen.  He  wasn't  makin'  money  by 
killin'  buffaler  fast  enough  to  suit  him,  so  he  an'  his 
men  began  robbin'  stage  coaches.  They  were  so  sly 
an'  cunnin'  about  it  that  they  couldn't  be  ketched, 
an'  nobody  couldn't  tell  who  they  were,  cause  they 


244  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

allers  did  their  badness  on  the  darkest  o'  nights. 
Finally,  arter  the  Colonel  had  done  everything  he 
could  think  of  to  break  up  their  business,  Leftenant 
Gaylord,  his  son,  thought  he  would  try  his  hand  at 
it ;  so  he  put  himself  into  buckskin  an'  went  out  to 
see  what  he  could  see.  Suspectin'  these  yere  buifaler 
hunters  from  the  fust,  he  went  among  'em,  worked 
with  'em,  lived  in  their  dugouts,  an'  even  helped  'em 
to  rob  a  stage  or  two.  He  was  a  layin'  his  plans  all 
the  while,  an'  when  he  thought  he  had  got  everything 
fixed  jest  as  he  wanted  it,  he  sprung  his  trap.  But 
the  Leftenant  is  young  an'  a  trifle  foolish  yet — he'll 
know  more  when  he's  twenty  years  older — an'  in 
stead  of  baggin'  the  hull  lot,  as  he  thought  to  do,  he 
ketched  only  one.  But  that  one  was  Bob  Allen,  who, 
the  fust  thing  he  knowed,  found  himself  chucked 
into  the  guard-house,  with  soldiers  watchin'  him 
night  an'  day.  I  can  talk  no  more  till  I  fire  up." 

Frank  passed  the  lantern  over  to  the  trapper,  and 
while  the  latter  was  lighting  his  pipe  he  kept  his 
eyes  fastened  on  the  face  of  his  young  companion. 
He  was  overjoyed  to  meet  him  once  more.  He  had 
not  much  to  say  about  it,  of  course,  for  the  rough 
backwoodsman  wTas  one  who  was  not  given  to  senti 
ment  ;  but  had  Frank  been  in  danger,  or  in  need  of 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  245 

any  assistance  that  Dick  could  possibly  render,  his 
regard  for  him  would  have  shown  itself  at  once. 
The  friend  who  submitted  so  tamely  to  his  captivity 
would  have  proved  a  perfect  lion  in  his  defence. 
The  wonderful  strength  the  boy  had  just  seen  exhi 
bited,  would  have  been  exerted  in  his  behalf,  backed 
up  by  courage  that  had  never  yet  been  daunted  by 
any  physical  dangers.  Reflections  something  like 
these  must  have  been  passing  through  the  trapper's 
mind,  for  after  he  had  lighted  his  pipe,  and  taken  a 
few  long  pulls  to  make  sure  that  it  was  fairly  started, 
he  said  : 

"  Youngster,  I'll  allow  that  I  wouldn't  see  you  in 
trouble  without  doin'  my  level  best  to  help  you  out, 
an'  I  reckon  you'll  do  the  same  by  me,  won't  you  ? 
I've  got  something  to  ask  of  you,  an'  I  speak  of  it 
now  afore  I  finish  my  story,  'cause  thar's  no  tellin* 
how  soon  the  Leftenant  will  be  back  here  to  take 
you  out." 

"  The  favor  is  granted,"  said  Frank. 

"  I  was  sartin  of  it.  If  I  could  see  ole  Bob  fur 
about  two  minutes  I  wouldn't  ask  it  of  you,  'cause 
thar's  danger  in  it.  But  I've  seed  enough  of  you 
to  know  that  you  don't  mind  that — not  if  you're  as 
keerless  as  you  used  to  be.  I'm  a  goin'  to  get  out 


246  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

o'  here  as  soon  as  you  go  away,  an'  I  want  my  boss. 
The  soldiers  tuk  him  when  they  gobbled  me,  an'  I 
reckon  they  staked  him  out  with  the  critters  b'long- 
in'  to  the  fort.  You'll  have  to  find  him  an'  steal  him 
fur  me.  Hoss  thieves  are  plenty,  an'  the  herders 
have  orders  to  shoot  anybody  they  ketch  foolin' 
about  the  stock  o'  nights." 

The  trapper  paused  and  looked  earnestly  into  his 
companion's  face,  but  saw  no  signs  of  alarm  or  hesi- 
itation  there.  "  Very  good,"  said  Frank  ;  u  describe 
the  horse." 

"  That  thar  boss  is  a  dark  chestnut — a'most 
black  !"  said  Dick,  "with  long  white  mane  an'  tail. 
His  mane  reaches  to  his  knees,  an'  his  tail  sweeps 
the  ground.  He's  got  one  white  fore-foot — the  left 
'un — an'  a  blazed  face.  You  can  pick  him  out 
among  a  hundred,  'cause  thar  ain't  another  like  him 
in  the  country.  He's  a'most  as  good  as  Roderick, 
an'  rnebbe — mind  I  don't  say  he  could  do  it,  'cause 
I  don't  want  to  hurt  your  feelin's — mebbe  he  could 
beat  him  in  a  fair  race.  I  stole  him  from  the  Injuns 
about  two  year  ago.  When  you  see  sich  a  boss  call 
him  Jack  ;  an'  if  he  answers  with  a  whinny,  he's  the 
feller  you're  lookin'  fur.  If  you  can  oust  get  up 
to  him  an'  turn  him  loose,  you're  all  right.  It  won't 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  247 

make  no  difference  then  if  the  herders  do  see  you, 
'cause  all  you  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  throw  one 
leg  over  his  back,  put  your  arm  around  his  neck  an' 
lay  alongside  him  Injun  fashion,  an'  he'll  take  you 
out  of  reach  of  the  soldiers'  bullets  in  the  shake  of  a 
buck's  tail." 

u  But  what  shall  I  do  with  him  when  I  get  him  ?" 

"  I'm  comiri'  to  that  now.  Jest  turn  his  head  as 
straight  south  from  the  fort  as  you  can  .  get  it,  an' 
he'll  do  the  rest.  He'll  take  you  over  the  prairy 
fur  about  a  mile,  an'  then  he'll  come  to  a  deep  ravine 
with  lots  of  little  gullies  runnin'  into  it.  He'll  carry 
you  in  thar,  turn  into  the  fust  gully  he  comes  to, 
an'  you  can  hitch  him  to  the  bushes  an'  leave  him. 
I've  hid  him  thar  more'n  onst ;  an' if  you'll  jest 
give  him  his  head,  he'll  know  what  to  do." 

"  But,  Dick,  I  don't  yet  understand  your  situa 
tion,"  said  Frank.  "  You  have  shown  me  that  you 
need  not  remain  a  prisoner  here  any  longer  than 
you  please,  and,  at  the  same  time,  you  give  me  to 
understand  that  you  want  to  get  away  without  any 
body's  knowledge.  How  is  that  ?  There's  some 
thing  wrong  somewhere." 

"  Not  a  thing,  youngster ;  not  a  thing.  Hain't 
I  told  you  that  I'm  a  government  scout  ?' 


248  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  No,  you  haven't." 

"  Then  it's  'cause  you  won't  let  me  tell  my  story 
in  my  own  way.     I  hain't  got  much  more  to   say, 
an'  when  I  get  through  I  want  to.  know  what  brought 
you  out  on   the  prairie   agin,  what  you've   been  a 
doin'  since  I  last  seed  you,  whar   the  leetle  un    an' 
Uncle  Jeemes  are,  an'  all   about  it.     I  was   tellin' 
you  about  the  Leftenant  capturin'  Bob  Allen,  wasn't 
I  ?     Wai,  when  these  buffaler  hunters  found  out  that 
their  chief  was  gone,  they  were  the  maddest  lot  of 
fellers  you   ever  seed.     They  knew   then  who   the 
Leftenant  was ;  an'  when  they  remembered  that  he 
had  been  livin'  with  'em  fur  more'n  a  month  as  one 
of  the  band — eatin'   with   'em,   hunt-in'   with   'em, 
helpin'  'em  rob  coaches,  an'  all  the  while  tryin'  to 
spy  out  things  so  that  he  could  lead  the  soldiers  agin 
'em,  they  didn't  feel  very  jolly  over  it.     They  sot 
to  work  to  onst  to   get  hold  of  the  Leftenant,  in- 
tendin'  to   offer   to   trade  him   off  fur  Allen — the 
guv'nor,  they  call  him;  an'  if  the  Colonel  wouldn't 
trade,  then  they'd  hang  the   Leftenant  for  a  spy. 
They  loafed  around  the  fort  at  all  hours  of  the  day 
an'  night,  an'  at  last  they  did  get  hold  of  him,  while 
he  was  actin'  as  officer  of  the  guard,  an'  tuk  him  to 
the  camp.     But  somehow  they  didn't  sarch  him  very 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  249 

clost  for  we'poris,  or  tie  him  very  tight,  an'  nuther 
did  they  watch  him  as  sharp,  as  they  had  oughter  done 
if  they  wanted  to  keep  him  ;  fur,  afore  he  had  been 
in  the  camp  two  minutes  he  slipped  his  hands  loose, 
pulled  a  pistol  from  one  of  his  long  boots,  a  knife 
from  the  other,  an'  in  less  time  nor  it  takes  to  tell 
it,  he  knocked  the  nigger  cook  over  the  head,  stuck 
his  knife  into  Potter's  arm,  an'  although  thar  were 
a  dozen  men  in  camp,  he  tuk  himself  safe  away. 
I've  heern  Potter  tell  about  it  many  a  time,  an'  he 
thinks  the  Leftenant  must  be  something  more'n 
human  to  slip  out  of  their  hands  as  easy  as  he  did. 
The  minute  he  got  back  to  the  fort,  he  an'  the  Major 
tuk  a  squad  of  hossmen  an'  rid  fur  dear  life  back  to 
the  camp,  lookin'  fur  nothing  else  than  to  bag  the 
last  one  of  them  thar  buifaler  hunters  ;  but  they 
was  just  a  leetle  too  late.  The  fellers  wasn't  thar. 
They  weren't  sich  fools  as  to  stay  in  that  camp  arter 
what  had  happened.  They  pulled  up  stakes  to  onst 
an'  settled  down  in  a  new  place ;  an'  they're  hid 
now  whar  the  Colonel  would  never  think  of  lookin' 
fur  'em.  They  still  kept  on  tryin'  to  make  a  pris'ner 
of  the  Leftenant,  but  he  was  too  sharp  to  let  them 
get  hold  of  him  agin:  an'  as  they  wanted  to  do 
something  for  the  guv'nor  without  losin'  no  time — 


250  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

you  see  they  were  afeared  the  Colonel  might  hang 
him,  instead  of  sendin'  him  off  to  be  dealt  with 
'cordin'  to  law — they  went  to  work  among  the  In 
juns.  They  wanted  to  get  'em  onto  the  war  trail, 
hopin'  that  they  would  attack  the  fort,  an'  so  give 
'em  a  chance  to  rescue  Allen.  They  first  made  the 
Injuns  find  fault  with  their  annooities.  You  know 
everything  about  books  an'  figgers,  youngster,  an' 
mebbe  you  can  tell  me  how  much  money  it  takes 
every  year  to  keep  these  lazy  heathen  in  powder, 
lead,  blankets,  hatchets  an'  so  on." 

"  Seven  millions  of  dollars,"  replied  Frank. 
"  Is  that  more'n  a  thousand  ?" 
"Yes,  seven  thousand  times  a  thousand." 
"  Human  natur'  !"  exclaimed  the  trapper.   "  That's 
a  powerful  lot.     It  goes  through  a  good  many  hands, 
I've  heern  tell,  an'  by  the  time  it  gets  out  here  in 
the  shape  of  supplies,  thar   ain't   much  left  fur  the 
Injuns  to  brag  on.     Them  buffaler  hunters  knowed 
all  about  this,  an'  made  the  most  of  it.     They  told 
the  Injuns  that  they  didn't  get  all  that  was  comin' 
to  them,  that  they  were  a  bad  abused  lot,  that  the 
white  settlers  were  gettin'  so  thick  that  it  wouldn't 
be  long   afore  thar  wouldn't   be  no   room  on   the 
prairy  fur  their  race,  and  the  fust  thing  the  Colonel 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  251 

knowed  thar  was  a  nice  little  fuss  on  hand,  an'  the 
fort  was  full  of  men,  women  an'  children  that  had 
been  drove  from  their  homes.  That  set  the  ole 
feller  to  bilin'.  He  sent  out  his  cavalry  an'  made 
short  work  with  the  Injuns,  drivin'  them  into  the 
hills  an'  soon  bringiri'  them  to  their  senses;  but 
thar  was  one  thing  he  couldn't  do,  an'  that  was  to 
get  hold  of  the  white  men  who  were  at  the  bottom 
of  all  the  trouble.  They  were  a  trifle  too  sharp 
for  the  ole  Colonel,  an'  were  hid  away  safe  an'  snug 
whar  the  soldiers  couldn't  find  em. 

"  About  this  time  me  an'  ole  Bob   come  in  from 
the  mountains,  whar  we  had  been  huntin'  an'  trap- 
pin'.     We  beared  what  was  goin'  on,  an'  thought 
we'd  take  a  hand  in   the  fuss ;    so  arter  a  leetle 
ialkin'  atweeri  ourselves,  we  went  to  the  Colonel  an' 
made  him  lock  the  door  afore  we  would  tell  him  our 
)usiness,  an'  then  we  talked  to  him  only  in  whispers. 
Colonel,'   says  I,  'me  an'  my  chum  here  are   ole 
mountain  men,  an'  honest  ones,  too,  as  anybody  can 
tell  who    knows  us.     We've   lived  in  this  country 
ever  since  we  were  knee-high  to  ducks,  an'  mebbe 
we   know    these    people    better'n   you    do.     We'll 
promise  to  find  the  fellers  who  have  been  kickin'  up 
all  this  rumpus  among  the  Injuns,  an'  give  'em  into 


252  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

your  hands  ;  but  thar's  one  thing  we  want  to  say 
an'  that  you  must  bar  in  mind:  \ve  don't  want  any 
body,  not  even  your  best  friend,  to  know  that  we 
are  in  your  service ;  'cause  why,  thar's  somebody 
'ibout  this  yere  fort  who  carries  news  to  them  fel 
lers,  an'  keeps  'em  posted  in  all  that's  goin'  on. 
We  don't  know  who  it  is — it  may  be  one  of  your 
soldiers  or  teamsters  for  all  we  can  say — an'  the  only 
way  to  keep  this  yere  bargain  we  are  makin'  from 
his  ears,  is  fur  you  to  say  nothing  to  nobody  about 
it.'  Wai,  the  Colonel  knowed  jest  what  we  meant, 
an'  wasn't  afeared  to  trust  us.  When  me  an'  ole 
Bob  went  into  his  quarters  we  wasn't  nothing  more'n 
plain  trappers,  but  when  we  come  out  we  were 
drawin'  pay  as  government  scouts.  The  Colonel 
oifered  us  a  pass  that  would  take  us  by  the  pickets 
at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night,  but  we  told  him 
that  wasn't  the  way  we  were  goin'  to  do  business; 
We  intended  to  jine  in  with  them  fellers,  help  'em  in 
doin'  meanness,  an'  run  our  risk  of  bein'  killed  by 
the  soldiers,  jest  as  if  we  had  been  real  outlaws-; 
only  if  we  got  ketched  the  Colonel  was  to  help  us 
get  away  so  that  we  could  finish  our  work. 

16  The  fust  thing  we  did  was  to  change  our  names 
— in  course  we  had  to  do  that,  'cause  a'most  every- 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  253 

body  on  the  prairy  had  heern  tell  of  Dick  Lewis  an' 
Bob  Kelly — an'  the  next  was  to  ride  down  to  the  old 
camp  of  the  buffaler  hunters — the  one  to  which  they 
had  tuk  the  Lef tenant  when  they  captured  him. 
We  found  only  two  fellers  thar,  an'  they  had  a 
couple  of  ponies  an'  carts,  an'  were  pickin'  up 
buffaler  bones  to  tote  to  Sargent  station.  They 
didn't  look  or  act  like  they  were  glad  to  see  us,  an' 
it  didn't  trouble  'em  none  to  tell  us  that  our  room 
would  suit  'em  better'n  our  company ;  but  me  an' 
ole  Bob,  bein'  used  to  rough  words  an'  rough  men, 
didn't  listen  to  'em,  but  settled  down  thar  in  the 
camp,  lived  in  their  dirty  dugout,  an'  helped  'em 
pick  up  buffa.ler  bones.  We  stayed  thar  with  'em  a 
month  an'  better,  talkin'  agin'  the  soldiers  an'  set 
tlers,  an'  wishin'  the  Injuns  would  clean  out  the 
last  one  of  'em,  an'  in  that  way  we  got  around  them 
fellers  so  that  they  told  us  all  we  wanted  to  know. 
They  b'longed  to  the  band,  jest  as  we  thought  they 
did,  an'  this  is  the  way  they  did  business  :  One  of 
'em — Chinny  Billy  is  his  name,  an'  you'd  know 
what  he  is  arter  you'd  tuk  one  good  look  at  his 
face — used  to  go  down  to  the  station  every  day  the 
coach  was  due  thar.  While  they  were  changin' 
Losses  he  would  talk  to  the  passengers,  find  out  if 


254  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

thar  were  any  miners  among  'em — miners  in  thes< 
days  have  a'most  allers  got  a  leetle  money,  yoi 
know — an'  if  thar  were,  he'd  come  back  to  camp 
an'  Mike,  the  other  feller,  would  jump  on  his  boss 
an'  come  down  here  to  the  fort.  He'd  tell  one  of 
the  herders  (you  see  I  was  right  when  I  told  the 
Colonel  that  mebbe  somebody  about  the  fort  b'longed 
to  the  band),  the  news  about  the  coach,  an'  he'd 
watch  his  chance,  -slip  down  to  Potter's  rancho  whai 
the  most  of  the  band  are  hid  away,  tell  them  what 
he  had  beared,  an'  they  would  go  out  an'  rob  the 
coach.  These  two  fellers,  Chinny  Billy  an'  Mike, 
act  as  scouts  for  the  band,  an'  this  bone  business  of 
theirs  is  only  a  blind.  They  hang  about  the 
station  to  pick  up  news,  but  at  the  same  time  they 
must  make  b'lieve  they  are  doin'  something  to  'am 
an  honest  livin',  or  folks  would  begin  to  suspect 
them.  The  fellers  that  do  the  robbin'  are  hid  away 
in  Potter's  rancho,  an'  never  show  themselves  in  the 
daytime.  Chinny  Billy  and  Mike  never  go  thar, 
an'  don't  have  nothin'  to  do  with  the  other  fellers, 
so  nobody  suspects  them  of  b'longin'  to  the  band. 
If  the  Colonel  knowed  as  much  about  'em  as  I  do, 
he'd  chuck  'em  both  in  irons  the  next  time  they 
come  to  the  fort. 


AMONG   THE   TRAPPERS.  255 

"  Arter  that  things  worked  smooth  fur  me  an'  ole 
Bob,  an'  if  you  could  have  seed  us  among  them  fel 
lers  you'd  a  thought  we  were  outlaws  sure  enough. 
Mebbe  you  won't  like  to  b'lieve  it,  youngster,  but  it's 
a  fact,  that  I've  helped  rob  more'n  one  coach,  an'  so 
has  ole  Bob.  But  we've  kept  everything  that  fell  in 
our  share,  an'  the  owners  will  get  it  agin  some  day. 
I  soon  got  to  be  a  chief  in  the  band,  an'  while  the 
guv'nor  is  in  prison  I'm  the  head  man  of  the  hull  mean 
business.  Everybody  knows  me  as  Bill  Brazell,  an' 
thinks  I'm  the  wust  feller  in  the  world  ;  but  the 
Colonel  knows  better,  an'  he's  kept  his  promise  too, 
'cause  he  hain't  even  told  his  own  son  of  our  bargin." 

"  Who  is  this  Potter  you  were  speaking  of?"  asked 
Frank. 

"He's  the  owner  of  the  rancho  whar  the  band 
make  their  head-quarters,  an'  the  boss  of  the  fellers 
next  to  me.  His  house  is  only  about  four  miles  from 
here.  If  you  should  go  straight  down  the  ravine 
whar  I  told  you  to  hide  my  hoss,  you'd  find  it — a 
leetle  stone  cabin,  stowed  away  under  the  bluffs  on 
the  right-hand  side.  But  mebbe  I  hadn't  oughter 
told  you  that,  'cause  you'll  go  foolin'  about  thar, 
jest  as  you  did  about  Don  Carlos's  rancho." 

"  I  have  no  intention  of  going  near  it,"  replied 


256  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

Frank,  with  a  smile.  But  he  did  do  it,  after  all. 
He  did  not  go  of  his  own  free  will,  but  simply  be 
cause  he  could  not  help  himself.  "  If  you  know 
where  these  fellows  are,  why  don't  you  capture 
them?"  he  added. 

"'Cause  things  hain't  worked  jest  to  our  likin'  : 
that's  why.  You  see  it  won't  do  to  make  a  move 
until  we  are  sure  of  every  one  of  'em.  If  we  gobble 
some,  the  rest'll  make  off,  an'  mebbe  we'll  never  see 
'em  agin.  The  Leftenant  spilt  everything  by  bein' 
in  a  hurry,  but  me  an'  Bob  are  too  ole  fur  that. 
Some  of  the  fellers,  an'  the  wust  ones  in  the  lot  too, 
have  been  off  in  the  mountains  fur  three  months, 
sarchin'  fur  a  gold-mine  they  heern  tell  on.  We're 
lookin'  fur  'em  back  now,  an'  when  they  come  some 
body  must  be  here  at  the  fort  to  show  'em  the  way 
to  Potter's,  'cause  the  band  have  changed  their 
hidin'-place  since  they  went  away.  That's  what  me 
an'  ole  Bob  come  up  fur  to-day,  an'  that's  the  way 
I  got  captured.  The  herders  seed  us  loafin'  about, 
an'  thinkin'  we  was  watchin'  a  chance  to  steal  some 
of  the  stock,  tuk  arter  us.  I  could  have  got  away 
from  'em  as  easy  as  fallin'  off  a  log,  but  I  couldn't  a 
done  it  without  rubbin'  out  two  or  three  soldiers,  an' 
that's  agin  natur',  you  know.  When  they  gobbled 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  257 

me,  an'  saw  I  was  Bill  Brazell,  wasn't  they  a  happy 
lot  though  ?  Them  fellers  will  be  back  from  the 
mountains  in  two  or  three  days,  an'  then  me  an' 
Bob'll  spring  our  trap.  We'll  have  'em  all  in  the 
ranch o  some  night,  an'  the  soldiers  will  be  ready  to 
rush  in  an'  ketch  the  last  one." 

"  I  wish  you'd  make  haste  and  do  it,"  said  Frank, 
with  so  much  earnestness  that  the  trapper  looked  at 
him  in  surprise.  "  Say,  Dick,"  he  continued,  "  we 
had  two  visitors  at  our  camp  night  before  last.  One 
of  them  was  a  tall,  round-shouldered  man  with  red 
whiskers  and  mustache,  and  he  wore  a  black  hat 
without  any  brim." 

u  That's  Parks,"  said  Dick.     "  I  know  him." 

"  The  other  was  a  short,  thick-set  fellow,  and 
might  have  passed  for  Black  Bill  if  he  had  been  a 
little  darker." 

"  That's  Reed,  another  of  the  band.  Them  two 
are  allers  together.  What  mischief  did  they  do  afore 
you  seed  the  last  of  'em  ?" 

Frank  replied  that  they  had  done  a  great  deal  of 
mischief;  and  then  went  on  to  tell  a  story  which  was 
quite  as  interesting  to  Dick,  as  the  latter's  story  had 
been  to  him.  In  order  that  the  trapper  might  fully 
understand  it,  he  began  with  his  first  meeting  with 
17 


258  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  Sportsman's  Club,  told  how  he  and  Archie  had 
been  made  acquainted  with  them,  related  the  inci 
dents  connected  with  the  commencement  of  their 
voyage  around  the  world,  and  described  minutely  all 
the  events  that  had  happened  on  the  night  of  Wal 
ter's  disappearance.  The  trapper  listened  so  atten 
tively  that  he  allowed  his  pipe  to  go  out,  and  when 
Frank  concluded  hastened  to  assure  him  that  there 
was  not  the  slightest  cause  for  apprehension — that 
his- friend  had  been  taken  to  Potter's  rancho  under 
the  mistaken  idea  that  he  was  Lieutenant  Gaylord, 
and  that  he  would  see  him  that  very  night  and  give 
him  his  promise  of  protection. 

"  Thar  shan't  a  bar  of  his  head  be  hurt,"  said  he. 
"  I  have  been  lookin'  all  along  fur  the  band  to  make 
a  pris'ner  of  the  Leftenant,  an'  I  was  afeared  that 
if  they  did,  they  might  do  him  some  harm  ;  so  I 
told  'em  all  that  if  one  of  'em  laid  an  ugly  hand  on 
him  they'd  have  to  answer  to  me  fur  it.  That's 
enough  to  keep  the  wust  one  among  'em  straight, 
'cause  I  have  a  quick  way  of  dealin'  with  'em  when 
they  don't  obey  orders  an'  walk  turkey.  I've  jest 
had  to  keep  'em  under  that  way,  an'  it's  been  the 
means  of  savin'  more'n  one  poor  feller's  life  while 
we've  been  robbin'  the  coaches." 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  259 

"  You  don't  know  what  a  load  of  anxiety  you 
have  removed  from  my  mind  !"  said  Frank,  grate 
fully.  "When  you  see  Walter,  just  tell  him  that 
you  are  Dick  Lewis.  That  will  be  enough.  He'll 
feel  perfectly  safe  as  long  as  you  are  in  sight.  I 
may  relieve  Uncle  Dick's  fears  by  repeating  what 
you  have  told  me,  may  I  not?  He'll  keep  your 
secret."' 

"  Sartin  ;  only  don't  stop  fur  that  till  you  get  my 
hoss  fur  me.  Do  that  the  very  fust  thing.  You 
see  I  don't  expect  to  get  out  of  the  fort  without  bein' 
diskivered,  'cause  thar's  guards  both  inside  an'  out 
side.  They'll  be  arter  me  sure,  an'  if  I  have  to 
stop  to  hunt  fur  my  hoss  they'll  kotch  me  agin." 

Frank  promised  faithfully  to  attend  to  all  the 
trapper's  instructions,  and  then  in  compliance  with 
his  request  proceeded  to  give  him  a  rapid  account 
of  the  principal  events  of  his  life  and  Archie's  since 
their  last  meeting.  When  he  related  his  experience 
in  the  navy,  told  how  he  had  enlisted  as  a  foremast 
hand  and  held  one  post  of  honor  and  trust  after 
another,  until  he  had  at  last  risen  to  the  command 
of  a  fine  vessel,  the  trapper  expressed  his  astonish 
ment  and  delight  by  uttering  a  volley  of  ejaculations 
and  slapping  him  heartily  on  the  shoulder.  In  the 


260  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

midst  of  his  story  a  key  rattled  in  the  lock.  Dick 
had  just  time  to  replace  the  staple  which  he  had 
pulled  out  of  the  floor  and  drive  it  into  its  socket  by 
a  stamp  with  his  foot,  when  the  door  opened,  and 
the  officer  of  the  day  thrust  his  head  into  the  room. 
"  Time's  up,  Mr.  Nelson,"  said  he. 

"  All  right,"  was  the  reply.     "  I  am  ready." 

With  a  parting  nod  to  Dick,  Frank  went  out,  and 
the  officer,  after  bestowing  a  sharp  glance  upon  the 
prisoner  to  assure  himself  that  he  was  still  securely 
ironed,  said,  as  he  locked  the  door  : 

"  The  Colonel  desires  me  to  say  that  he  is  busy 
at  present  receiving  the  reports  of  some  scouts,  and 
that  he  will  see  you  directly." 

"  Very  good.  I'll  be  on  hand  when  he  wants  me," 
said  Frank  ;  "  although  to  tell  the  truth,"  he  added, 
mentally,  "I  don't  know  what  to  say  to  him,  for  he 
knows  as  much  about  Dick  and  his  band  as  I  do. 
No  doubt  he  will  see  me,  just  to  keep  up  appearances." 

We  can  easily  imagine  that  our  hero  carried  away 
from  his  friend's  prison  a  much  lighter  heart  than 
he  had  brought  into  it.  If  he  had  consulted  his 
own  feelings,  he  would  have  lost  no  time  in  finding 
Uncle  Dick  and  communicating  to  him  the  result 
of  the  interview.  Not  only  was  he  impatient  to 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  261 

assure  him  bf  Walter's  safety,  and  tell  him  what  a 
powerful  friend  he  had  interested  in  behalf  of  the 
missing  boy,  but  he  wanted  to  correct  the  wrong 
impression  the  old  sailor  had  received  concerning  the 
prisoner.  He  could  not  bear  that  any  one  should 
think  ill  of  Dick  Lewis.  But  he  had  a  matter  of 
importance  to  attend  to  before  he  could  see  Uncle 
Dick,  and  that  was  to  secure  the  horse.  The  fact 
that  there  was  danger  in  the  undertaking,  and  that 
without  the  exercise  of  the  greatest  caution  he  would 
be  almost  certain  to  become  the  target  for  the  rifles 
of  the  herders,  did  not  trouble  him  in  the  least. 
His  only  fear  was  that  he  might  make  some  mistake. 
If  he  failed  in  his  efforts  to  steal  away  the  horse,  and 
the  trapper  in  consequence  of  his  failure,  was  over 
taken  and  recaptured  after  escaping  from  the  fort,  it 
would  be  a  misfortune  indeed.  He  wanted  Dick  to 
see  Walter  and  assure  him  of  his  protection  ;  and  he 
was  willing  to  run  any  risks  in  order  to  bring  about 
a  meeting  between  them. 

Thrusting  his  hands  into  his  pockets,  and  throw 
ing  as  much  coolness  and  indifference  into  his  gait 
and  manner  as  he  could  in  view  of  the  exciting  and 
perilous  experiment  he  was  about  to  make,  Frank 
sauntered  leisurely  out  of  the  fort.  The  sentry  at 


262  TUE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  gate  scarcely  looked  at  him,  arid  neither  did  he 
offer  any  opposition  to  the  egress  of  the  person  who 
followed  a  short  distance  behind  Frank,  and  watched 
every  move  he  made.  He  was  a  tall,  ungainly 
youth,  dressed  in  a  ragged  red  shirt  and  coarse 
trowsers,  the  latter  being  thrust  into  a  pair  of  heavy 
boots.  He  wore  a  tattered  felt  hat  on  his  head, 
from  under  the  brim  of  which  appeared  a  shock  of 
uncombed  black  hair.  He  slouched  along  in  a  half- 
crouching  attitude,  looking  suspiciously  from  one 
side  to  the  other,  as  if  fearful  of  attracting  the  at 
tention  of  somebody.  He  followed  Frank  at  a  re 
spectful  distance,  just  keeping  him  in  sight  in  the 
darkness,  and  finally  disappeared  with  him  around 
an  angle  of  the  stockade. 

Frank's  first  care  was  to  ascertain  where  the 
horses  belonging  to  the  garrison  were  picketed,  and 
this  was  a  matter  of  no  difficulty,  for  he  had  noticed 
the  animals  feeding  on  the  prairie  when  he  and  his 
companions  first  drove  up  to  the  fort.  As  soon  as  he 
was  out  of  sight  of  the  sentry  at  the  gate,  he 
stretched  himself  upon  the  ground  and  worked  his 
way  through  the  grass  toward  the  bottom  of  the 
hill.  When  he  rose  to  his  feet  again  he  was  among 
the  horses.  There  were  a  good  many  of  them,  and 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  263 

lie  knew  it  would  require  both  time  and  patience  to 
find  the  one  he  wanted.  He  moved  about  very  cau 
tiously  for  fear  of  frightening  the  animals.  Some 
of  them  merely  raised  their  heads  and  looked  at 
him,  while  others  shied  at  his  approach,  and  spring 
ing  away  the  length  of  their  lariats,  stood  and 
snorted  at  him  in  a  way  Frank  did  not  like. 

"  This  will  never  do,"  said  he  to  himself,  after  he 
had  spent  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  fruitless  search  ; 
"  these  fellows  make  too  much  noise.  I  must  go 
away  and  come  back  again  when  they  have  had 
time  to  quiet  down  a  little.  I  declare,  they've 
aroused  the  guard,  for  I  can  hear  voices.  Ah  ! 
what's  this  ?"  he  added,  as  something  white  caught 
his  eye.  "  Jack,  old  boy  !  Jack  !" 

He  had  found  the  right  one  at  last,  and  riot  a 
moment  too  soon.  The  animal  looked  at  him,  an 
swered  to  his  name,  and  approached  him  as  near  as 
his  lariat  would  allow.  As  Frank  went  up  to  him 
the  voices  sounded  close  at  hand.  The  herders  were 
hurrying  up  to  see  what  had  disturbed  the  horses. 

"  Whoa,  Bess  !  Keep  still,  Tom !"  said  one. 
"  What's  the  matter  with  you,  anyhow  ?  See  any 
thing  over  that  way,  Jones?" 

"  No  ;  but  there's  something  here,  and  I'll  bet 


264  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

heavy  on  it,"  replied  another  voice.  "  They  don't 
dance  around  this  way  for  nothing.  Selivn,  if  you 
kick  me,  I'll  wallop  you." 

The  guards,  and  there  proved  to  be  as  many  as  a 
half  a  dozen  of  them,  walked  about  among  the 
animals,  patting  one  and  speaking  soothingly  to 
another,  and  instead  of  getting  further  away  from 
Frank,  as  he  hoped  they  would,  they  drew  nearer 
to  him  with  every  step.  To  remain  there  longer 
was  to  be  discovered  and  captured.  Something 
must  be  done,  and  that  without  a  minute's  delay. 
As  quick  as  thought  he  pulled  out  his  knife,  arid 
cutting  the  lasso  with  which  Jack  was  secured,  led 
him  slowly  away,  hoping  that  he  might. escape  with 
him  without  attracting  the  attention  of  the  guard. 
But  he  had  allowed  them  fco  approach  too  near  for 
that.  One  of  them  saw  the  horse  in  motion,  and 
not  discovering  Frank,  who  was  walking  half  bent 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  animal,  ran  forward 
shouting  to  his  companions : 

"  Look  out,  boys  !  That  chestnut  with  the  white 
mane  and  tail  is  loose  and  going  off.  Head  him. 
there!" 

But  the  herders  were  not  quick  enough  to  head 
him.  Seeing  that  further  concealment  was  impos- 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  265 

sible,  Frank  threw  one  foot  over  Jack's  back,  clasped 
both  arms  around  his  neck,  and  on  the  instant  the 
horse  bounded  off  like  the  wind,  carrying  him,  with 
a  few  jumps,  safely  out  of  the  drove  to  the  open 
prairie.  To  Frank's  surprise,  and  to  his  great  relief, 
not  a  shot  was  fired  at  him,  and  the  reason  was  be 
cause  he  was  so  completely  hidden  behind  the  body 
of  the  horse  that  the  guards  had  not  seen  him.  Had 
he  mounted  in  the  usual  manner,  he  might  have  got 
off  the  horse's  back  in  much  less  time  than  it  took 
him  to  get  on ;  for  the  herders  were  too  close  to  him 
to  miss  a  mark  the  size  of  his  body,  dark  as  it  was. 
Having  seen  no  rider,  they  believed  that  the  animal 
had  accidentally  got  loose,  and  contented  themselves 
with  the  reflection  that  it  would  be  an  easy  matter 
to  find  him  in  the  morning. 

After  allowing  Jack  to  run  until  he  was  sure  that 
all  danger  of  pursuit  had  passed,  Frank  climbed 
upon  his  back,  and  by  pulling  gently  uporr  the  rem 
nant  of  the  lasso  which  was  still  around  the  animal's 
neck,  succeeded  in  subduing  his  gait  to  a  rapid  walk. 
The  horse  went  ahead  willingly  as  if  he  knew  where 
he  was  going,  and  the  result  proved  that  he  did. 
He  entered  the  ravine  of  which  the  trapper  had 
spoken,  arid  after  picking  his  way  carefully  for  a 


zbb  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

short  distance  over  the  rough  stones,  turned  into  a 
smaller  ravine  which  ran  at  right  angles  with  the 
first,  and  stopped.  Frank  at  once  dismounted,  and 
making  the  lasso  fast  to  a  sapling  that  grew  at  the 
foot  of  the  bluff,  and  giving  Jack  an  approving  slap 
on  the  back,  turned  to  retrace  his  steps  to  the  fort. 
He  had  done  his  work,  accomplished  another  exploit 
to  be  proud  of,  and  was  now  at  liberty  to  perform  a 
pleasing  duty,  which  was  to  inform  Uncle  Dick  that 
Walter  was  as  safe  under  the  roof  of  the  outlaws  as 
he  would  have  been  at  the  fort.  While  he  was 
hurrying  along,  completely  absorbed  in  his  reflec 
tions,  he  suddenly  encountered  an  obstacle  in  his 
path.  It  was  a  horseman  who  was  standing  so  close 
to  him  that  three  steps  more  would  have  brought 
Frank  in  contact  with  him. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  267 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

DICK  LEWIS  SPRINGS  HIS  TRAP. 

T7RANK  fell  back  a  step  or  two  and  looked  at  the 
horseman.  He  was  a  member  of  the  band  be 
yond  a  doubt,  for  no  other  would  be  likely  to  be 
loitering  about  in  that  ravine  at  that  time  of  night, 
and  so  near  Potter's  rancho.  Almost  involuntarily 
Frank  placed  his  hand  at  his  side,  but  his  revolvers 
were  not  there.  At  the  time  of  his  accident  in 
crossing  the  stream,  he  had  thrown  them  into  the 
wagon,  and  not  thinking  that  he  would  have  use  for 
them  so  near  the  fort,  he  had  not  put  them  on  again. 
While  he  was  wondering  what  he  ought  to  do,  the 
horseman  spoke.  "Don't  shoot!"  said  he,  "I'm 
Chinny  Billy.  They  calls  nue  that  'cause  I  wags 
my  chin  so  much  an'  so  easy.  Who  be  you  ?  I 
thought  you  was  the  right  sort  the  minute  I  looked 
at  you ;  an' you  must  be  all  hunky-dory  with  the 
Colonel  too,  'cause  I  seed  you  goin'  an'  talk  to 
Brazell.  I  seed  you  when  you  stole  his  hoss  an'  run 


268  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

off  with  him,  an'  then  I  knowed  sartin  that  you  wag 
one  of  us,  so  I  follered  you,  thinkin'  mebbe  you  was 
goin'  to  Potter's.  He  sent  me  word  to  come  down 
to-night  'cause  he  had  something  particular  fur  me 
to  do,  an'  said  he  would  have  a  man  at  the  fort  to 
meet  me  an'  show  me  the  way.  You're  him,  hain't 
you?  Who  be  you  ?" 

While  the  horseman  was  speaking  (and  he  made 
good  his  name,  rattling  off  his  speech  so  rapidly  that 
his  listener  could  not  have  crowded  a  word  in  ed^e- 

o 

wise  if  he  had  tried)  Frank  had  time  to  recover 
somewhat  from  the  alarm  occasioned  by  their  sudden 
meeting,  and  to  think  the  situation  over  calmly — 
that  is,  as  calmly  as  one  could  while  he  stood  facing 
a  robber.  He  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  service 
he  had  performed  for  Dick  Lewis  was  known,  and 
that  it  had  won  for  him  the  confidence  of  an  outlaw. 
It  was  a  most  disagreeable  surprise  too,  for  it  had 
been  the  means  of  getting  him  into  a  scrape  from 
which  he  could  see  no  way  of  extricating  himself. 
He  was  expected  to  show  Chinny  Billy  the  way  to 
Potter's  rancho,  and  that  was  a  service  he  had  no 
intention  of  performing.  To  escape  it,  two  courses 
of  action  were  open  to  him  :  One  was  to  take  to  his 
heels,  and  the  other  to  carry  out  the  deception,  and 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  269 

try  to  induce  Billy  to  remain  in  the  ravine  for 
an  hour  or  so,  while  he  went  back  to  the  fort  on  some 
imaginary  business  for  the  band.  Both  were  dan 
gerous.  If  he  tried  the  first,  a  bullet  from  the 
horseman's  pistol  might  stop  him  before  he  could 
, reach  the  bushes  ;  and,  if  he  attempted  the  second, 
he  might  say  or  do  something  to  excite  Chinny 
Billy's  suspicions,  which  would  be  quite  as  bad. 

"  You  needn't  be  afeared  to  speak,"  continued 
the  horseman,  "  'cause  you've  beared  of  me,  an'  you 
know  I'm  all  right.  I  hangs  around  the  station, 
finds  out  about  the  coaches  an'  sends  the  news  to 
;the  other  fellers.  I've  been  in  the  band  a' most  ever 
since  it  was  started.  Mike  brought  me  in.  I  know 
jyou  hain't  never  seed  me,  'cause  I  stays  in  the  camp 
!all  the  while  when  I  ain't  at  the  station.  You're 
ione  of  Potter's  fellers,  an'  I've  never  been  thar. 
JBut  I'm  Chinny  Billy  !  who  be  you  ?" 

"  I'm  Colorado  Johnny  !"  replied  Frank,  giving 
the  first  name  that  came  into  his  mind.  "  They  call 
me  that  'cause  I  come  from  Colorado.  I  reckon 
you're  true  blue,  an'  I'm  glad  to  see  you.  Give  us 
your  flipper  !  How's  times  ?" 

"Frank  moved  up  close  to  the  horseman  and  ex 
tended  his  hand,  which  the  latter  seized  and  shook 


270  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

cordially.  Then  he  saw — and  he  was  not  a  littl 
surprised  thereat — that  the  man  who  was  at  th 
bottom  of  all  the  robberies  that  had  been  committei 
in  that  section  during  the  last  year,  was  not  a  man 
but  a  boy — a  youth  a  few  years  younger  than  him 
self.  He  was  a  sturdy  fellow,  carried  weapons  ii 
his  belt,  and  looked  altogether  like  an  ugly  cus 
tomer ;  but  that  did  not  deter  Frank  from  carrying 
out  a  bold  resolve  he  had  suddenly  formed.  Theri 
was  another  way  out  of  his  difficulty,  and  that  wa 
to  make  a  prisoner  of  the  outlaw. 

"  Times  hain't  as  lively  as  they  used  to  be,"  an 
swered  Chiriny  Billy.  "  The  miners  ain't  doin'  mucl 
now,  an'  them  as  travels  ain't  wuth  the  trouble  i 
takes  to  stop  a  coach.  That's  what  the  fellers  say 
You  know  I  don't  help  in  the  business.  I  stays  iii 
the  camp  while  it  is  goin'  on,  an'  keeps  out  of  sight 
'An  'atween  you  an'  me,  Brazell  ain't  the  feller  thi 
guv'nor  is.  He's  too  chicken-hearted.  I've  been 
tell  of  him  knockin'  a  man  endways,  jest  'cause  h 
shot  at  the  driver  of  a  coach  when  he  wouldn't  pill 
up.  I'm  ready  to  go  on  now,  if  you  be.  Wha 
do  you  reckon  Potter  wants  of  me  ?  Hold  on,  Co" 
orado  !  What  you  doin'  ?" 

Chinny  Billy  was  not  long  in  finding  out  wha 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  271 

Frank  was  doing.  He  had  purposely  kept  a  firm 
hold  of  the  young  horseman's  hand,  and  watching 
his  opportunity'  and  throwing  all  his  strength  into 
the  effort,  he  jerked  him  out  of  his  saddle  and  threw 
him  flat  among  the  boulders.  It  was  a  perilous 
I  undertaking,  but  it  was  so  easily  accomplished  that 
Frank's  confidence  was  greatly  increased. 

"  I'll  show  you  the   way  to  the   fort  and  to  the 
guard-house  !"  he  exclaimed.     "  There's  where  you 
1  belong.     You're  one   of  the  men  the   Colonel  has 
been  looking  for." 

Frank's  attack  was  so  sudden  and  determined  that 
his  antagonist  was  overpowered  before  he  had  time 
i  to  move  a  finger.     Frank    quickly  unbuckled    the 
j  belt  containing  his  knife  and  revolver,  and  throwing 
|it  aside,  and  rolling  his  captive  over  on  his  face,  he 
j  pulled  his  arms  behind  his  back  arid  tied  them  firmly 
(with  a  handkerchief  which  he  drew  from  his  pocket. 
Then  he  picked   up  the   belt   again,  removed  the 
weapons,  and   after  drawing  off  Billy's  boots,  pro- 
l.ceeded  to  confine  his  ankles,  which  he  did  by  wrap 
ping  the  belt  about  them  and  buckling  it  tightly. 
This  much  being   done,  he  lifted  his  prisoner  in  his 
arms,  and  carrying  him  into  the  gully  where  he  had 
left  the  horse,  laid  him  beside  the  bush  to  which  Jack 


272  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

was  tied.  His  first  thought  had  been  to  take  him 
to  the  fort ;  but  on  reflection  he  decided  that  it 
would  not  be  quite  safe  to  attempt  it.  Chinny 
Billy  was  almost  as  large,  and  perhaps  fully  as  strong 
and  active  as  himself;  and  if,  during  the  ride,  he 
should  by  any  chance  succeed  in  freeing  himself 
from  his  bonds,  Frank  might  not  be  able  to  master 
him.  He  had  no  desire  to  engage  in  a  fair  contest 
with  him. 

"  Who  be  you,  anyhow  ?"  demanded  Chinny 
Billy,  who  had  not  spoken  during  the  whole  pro 
ceeding. 

"  I  am  one  who  is  down  on  all  such  fellows  as  you 
are,"  replied  Frank.  "You  stay  here  and  don't 
open  your  head.  If  I  hear  a  squeak  out  of  you  I'll 
bo  back  here  with  a  club  !" 

Having  satisfied  himself  that  he  had  left  his- 
prisoner  where  Dick  would  be  sure  to  see  him  when  he 
came  for  his  horse,  Frank  hurried  out  into  the  ravine 
again.  He  found  Chinny  Billy's  nag  where  he  had 
left  him,  and  swinging  himself  upon  his  back  set  outi 
in  a  full  gallop  for  the  fort.  But  that  ravine  seemed 
to  be  an  unlucky  place  for  him.  His  adventures  there' 
were  not  yet  ended.  Before  he  reached  the  prairie* 
he  was  brought  to  a  halt  by  another  horseman. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  273 

This  one  was  prepared  for  any  emergency,  for  he 
held  his  rifle  at  his  shoulder,  and  the  muzzle  was 
pointed  at  Frank's  head. 

"Now,    then,"    said    he,    "don't    be    long    in" 
speakin' !" 

"  I'm  Chinny  Billy,"  replied  Frank,  uttering  the 
name  almost  before  he  knew  what  he  was  doing. 

"That's  all  "right,"  said  the  man,  lowering  his 
rifle.  "You're  jest  the  feller  I'm  huntin'  fur. 
Potter  sent  me  to  find  you  an'  show  you  the  way 
down.  I've  been  up  to  the  fort,  but  I  didn't  see 
nobody  thar  who  looked  like  I  thought  you  had 
oughter  look,  an'  I  had  a'most  give  you  up.  Potter 
wants  to  see  you  particular.  Come  on." 

Frank's  heart  sank  within  him.  Here  was  a 
scrape  worse  than  the  one  he  had  just  got  out  of. 
This  was  the  man  for  Avhom  he  had  been  mistaken — 
I  the  one  Potter  had  sent  to  conduct  Chinny  Billy  to 
his  rancho.  He  could  not  accompany  him  of  course, 
if  there  were  any  way  to  avoid  it,  arid  to  refuse 
would  be  dangerous.  This  was  no  boy  to  be  taken 
by  surprise  and  overcome  after  a  few  seconds'  strug 
gle,  but  a  grown  man,  as  he  knew  by  the  tones  of  his 
voice.  Frank  did  not  know  how  to  act,  and  neither 
was  he  allowed  time  to  consider  the  matter  ;  for 


274  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  man  becoming  impatient  at  his  silence  exclaimed : 
"  Turn  round  an'  come  on.  Potter's  waitin'  fur 
you." 

"  I  can't  jest  now,"  answered  Frank.  "  I'm  goin' 
to  the  fort.  I've  got  business  thar." 

"  You  have,  have  you  ?"  said  the  horseman  ;  "  you 
can  see  to  that  arterwards.  I  was  told  to  fetch  you 
to  the  rancho,  an'  I  know  too  much  of  Erazell  an' 
Potter  to  go  back  thar  without  you,  now  that  I  have 
found  you.  You  must  go  ;  I'll  make  you.  Turn 
round,  I  say  !" 

Frank  had  no  alternative.  The  horseman's  rifle 
was  at  his  shoulder  and  the  hammer  was  raised.  An 
attempt  at  escape  under  such  circumstances  would 
have  been  sheer  folly.  Without  saying  a  word  he 
wheeled  his  horse  and  started  down  the  ravine. 
Now  another  fear  assailed  him.  He  and  his  com 
panion  would  be  obliged  to  pass  within  a  few  rods  of 
the  place  where  he  had  left  the  real  Chinny  Billy  and 
the  trapper's  horse  ;  and  what  if  one  or  the  other 
should  reveal  his  whereabouts?  What  if  Jack, 
knowing  that  there  were  others  of  his  species  close 
by,  should  call  to  them,  or  Chinny  Billy,  hearing  the 
sound  of  the  hoofs,  should  raise  a  yell  to  attract  at 
tention?  Franlt  held  himself  in  readiness  for  sucb 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  275 

an  emergency,  being  resolved  to  brave  the  bullet  in 
the  horseman's  rifle  and  take  to  his  heels ;  but  for 
tunately  he  was  not  obliged  to  put  this  plan  into  ex 
ecution.  Jack's  training  and  the  threat  he  had 
made  before  leaving  Chinny  Billy  kept  them  both 
quiet. 

But  little  was  said  during  the  ride  down  the  ravine. 
Frank's  companion  was  talkative  enough,  being  de 
sirous  of  learning  all  that  was  going  on  at  the  station 
and  in  the  camp  of  the  buffalo  hunters — topics  upon 
which  Frank  was  as  little  posted  as  he  was  ;  so  for 
fear  of  exposing  himself  he  maintained  a  sullen 
silence.  After  a  tedious  ride  of  three  miles,  over  the 
roughest  road  Frank  had  ever  travelled,  the  man 
announced  that  they  were  at  their  journey's  end,  and 
dismounting,  hitched  his  horse  to  some  bushes  at  the 
foot  of  the  bin  ft*.  Frank  followed  his  example,  but 
his  hands  trembled  as  he  made  the  knot;  fast,  and  his 
heart  beat  so  loudly  that  he  was  almost  sure  his  com 
panion  could  hear  it.  It  was  a  trying  ordeal  that 
he  was  about  to  pass  through,  but  he  consoled  him 
self  with  the  thought  that  if  he  were  detected,  none 
of  the  band  would  dare  to  harm  him  until  Dick  had 
been  consulted.  The  latter,  if  he  succeeded  in  mak 
ing  his  escape  from  the  fort,  would  soon  arrive,  and 


276  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

then  he  would  be  as  safe  as  though  he  were  sur 
rounded  by  the  bayonets  of  Colonel  Gaylord's  gar 
rison.  But  even  the  knowledge  of  this  fact  did  not 
altogether  allay  his  fears.  Walking  like  one  in  a 
dream  he  followed  his  conductor,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
was  ushered  into  the  rancho.  To  his  great  relief 
his  entrance  was  scarcely  noticed.  The  occupants 
of  the  room  were  gathered  about  a  rough  table,  seem 
ingly  very  much  interested  in  something  that  was 
going  on.  Conspicuous  among  them  stood  a  tall, 
heavy  man  almost  as  large  as  Dick,  who  was  talking 
loudly,  and  emphasizing  his  remarks  by  repeated 
blows  upon  the  table.  "  Then  draw  up,"  Frank 
heard  him  say,  "  and  write  that  letter  without  no 
more  foolin',  or — "  The  sentence  was  finished  with 
a  volley  of  oaths  and  threats  that  were  enough  to 
make  one  tremble. 

Frank  at  once  became  as  much  interested  as  the 
outlaws  were.  He  moved  about  among  them  until 
he  could  look  over  some  of  the  brawny  shoulders 
interposed  between  him  and  the  table,  and  finally 
caught  sight  of  what  proved  to  be  the  centre  of  at 
traction.  It  was  his  missing  friend,  Walter  Gaylord, 
who  sat  with  a  pen  in  his  hand  and  a  sheet  of  blue 
note-paper  before  him.  His  face  was  as  pale  as  a 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  277 

sheet,  but  he  was  as  cool  and  collected  as  a  boy 
could  be  under  the  circumstances.  Frank  stood 
around  in  silence  with  the  others  while  Walter  was 
writing  the  letter,  arid  for  want  of  something  better 
to  do,  occupied  the  time  in  taking  a  surrey  of  his 
surroundings,  bestowing  his  attention  principally 
upon  the  outlaws.  He  counted  an  even  dozen  of 
them,  fierce-looking  fellows,  dressed  in  various  styles, 
and  all  carrying  weapons  in  their  belts.  As  his 
eyes  rested  on  the  twelfth  man  he  started,  and  for 
getting  for  the  moment  where  he  was,  was  almost  on 
the  point  of  advancing  to  meet  him.  This  one  was 
a  very  old  man,  with  long  white  hair  and  whiskers, 
who  stood  with  folded  arms  leaning  against  the  wall 
at  the  foot  of  the  table.  It  was  Bob  Kelly,  Dick's 
faithful  friend  and  companion.  Frank  knew  him 
on  the  instant,  but  there  was  nothing  in  the  old 
trapper's  countenance  to  indicate  that  he  recognised 
Frank.  He  stared  coldly  at  him  and  looked  another 
way. 

By  this  time  Walter  had  finished  his  letter. 
Frank  listened  to  the  reading  of  it,  and  was  not  a 
little  alarmed  when  he  was  called  upon  to  read  it 
over  after  him.  He  was  still  more  alarmed  when  he 
found  himself  standing  in  front  of  Potter.  He  had 


278  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

seen  that  same  man  but  a  few  hours  before.  Just 
after  sunset,  while  he  and  his  companions  were  wan 
dering  about  over  the  prairie  looking  for  the  fort, 
they  met  a  horseman,  who,  in  response  to  their  in 
quiries,  gruffly  directed  them  to  their  destination. 
That  man  was  Potter.  Frank  would  not  have  looked 
twice  at  him,  had  it  not  been  for  the  fact  that  he 
rode  a  magnificent  coal-black  horse  which  attracted 
his  attention  at  once.  Frank's  hand  trembled  as 
he  took  the  letter,  and  he  expected  every  instant  to 
hear  Potter  refer  to  their  previous  meeting.  But 
nothing  of  the  kind  happened.  Perhaps  the  man 
did  not  know  him  in  his  new  suit. 

By  the  exercise  of  all  his  self-control  Frank  suc 
ceeded  in  acting  his  part  to  perfection,  and  as  we  have 
seen,  agreed  to  perform  the  service  that  had  been 
expected  of  the  real  Chinny  Billy,  which  was  to 
carry  the  letter  to  the  Colonel.  He  saw  Walter 
staring  at  him,  and  knew  by  the  expression  of  un 
bounded  surprise  on  his  face  that  he  recognised  him. 
How  he  longed  to  give  him  just  one  encouraging 
look  !  But  knowing  that  the  eyes  of  all  the  outlaws 
were  upon  him,  he  affected  an  indifference  he  was 
far  from  feeling,  and  finally  went  out,  leaving  Walter 
lost  in  a  maze  of  bewilderment.  His  movements 


AMONG   THE    TRAPPERS.  279 

were  very  deliberate  as  long  as  he  remained  within 
sight  of  the  rancho  ;  but  the  moment  a  bend  in  the 
ravine  hid  it  from  view,  he  put  Chinny  Billy's  horse 
into  a  full  gallop,  which  he  never  slackened  until  he 
reached  the  gully  in  which  he  had  left  his  captive 
and  the  trapper's  horse.  He  found  them  both  safe, 
and  that  was  evidence  that  Dick  had  not  yet  been 
there  ;  but  he  was  on  the  way,  as  Frank  found  before 
he  had  gone  much  farther,  for  just  as  he  emerged 
from  the  ravine  he  discovered  some  one  running  to 
ward  him.  The  man  must  have  possessed  remarkable 
powers  of  vision,  for  as  soon  as  he  saw  Frank  he 
pronounced  his  name,  adding  : 

"  You  keerless  feller,  you've  been  a  doin'  of  some 
thing  you  had  no  business  to  do.  Whar  did  you 
get  that  hoss  ?" 

"  Is  that  you,  Dick  ?"  exclaimed  Frank. 

"  I  reckon.  I  got  out  jest  as  I  told  you  I  would 
— unlocked  my  irons,  opened  the  winder,  jumped 
over  the  stockade  an'  cl'ared  myself.  I  had  two 
ehots  fired  at  me,  but  here  I  am,  safe  an'  sound. 
Whar  you  been?" 

"  I've  been  in  Potter's  rancho,  have  seen  Walter 
Gaylord  and  old  Bob,  and  made  a  prisoner  of  Chinny 
Billy  besides." 


280  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

"  I  knowed  it  !"  exclaimed  the  trapper,  profound 
ly  astonished.  "  Of  all  the  keerless  fellers  I  ever 
seed  in  my  life,  you're  the  beat." 

"  I  assure  you  that  I  didn't  go  because  I  wanted 
to.  I  couldn't  help  it." 

"  Couldn't !     Tell  us  all  about  it,  to  onst." 

Frank  began  his  story  but  did  not  finish  it,  for  in 
two  minutes  the  trapper  had  heard  as  much  as  he 
wanted  to  listen  to  just  then. 

"You  say  thar  were  twelve  men  in  the  rancho  ?" 
he  interrupted.  "  Then  the  fellers  must  have  got 
back  from  the  mountains.  Thar  ain't  but  fourteen  of 
us,  not  countin'  the  fellers  that  live  in  the  camp,  an' 
the  two  that  are  missin'  must  be  down  to  the  station. 
They'll  be  back  afore  long,  an'  if  they  ain't  we  can 
easy  find  'em.  Thar's  no  thin'  fur  me  to  do  now 
but  spring  my  trap,  an'  that  I'll  do  in  less'n  two 
hours.  I'll  gobble  up  them  fellers  at  Potter's,  ketch 
them  two  at  the  station,  then  go  up  to  the  camp 
arter  Mike.  He's  the  only  one  thar,  now  that 
Chinny  Billy  is  captured.  Come  on,  youngster." 

Dick  faced  about  and  started  in  the  direction  of 
the  fort  at  such  a  pace  that  Frank  was  obliged  to 
put  his  horse  into  a  gallop  to  keep  up  with  him. 
When  they  came  within  sight  of  the  stockade,  they 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  281 

encountered  a  squad  of  cavalrymen   who  were  just 
setting  out  in  pursuit  of  the  trapper. 

"  Halt,  here  !"  cried  the  officer  in  command,  and 
who  proved  to  be  no  other  than  Lieutenant  Gay- 
lord  ;  "  where  are  you  going  in  such  a  hurry  ?" 

"  To  the  fort  to  see  the  Colonel !"  replied  Dick. 

"Brazell !"  exclaimed  the  Lieutenant,  recognising 
his  voice.  "  Now,  this  is  lucky." 

The  mention  of  that  well-known  name  brought  a 
dozen  revolvers  to  light,  and  in  a  second  Frank  and 
his  companion  were  covered  by  the  weapons. 

"Dismount  and  search  him,  a  couple  of  you," 
commanded  the  officer.  "Who  is  this?"  he  added, 
riding  up  to  Frank  and  peering  sharply  into  his 
face.  "Mr.  Nelson!" 

"At  your  service,"  replied  Frank. 

"  Well  now,  young  man,  it  seems  to  me  that  you 
might  be  in  better  business  than  assisting  outlaws  to 
escape.  You'll  be  likely  to  suffer  for  this." 

"  Keep  your  breath,  Leftenant,"  said  Dick,  whose 
clothing  was  being  thoroughly  overhauled  by  the 
soldiers ;  "  you'll  need  it  to  cool  your  coffee  in  the 
mornin'.  If  you  don't  tell  me  in  less'n  half  an  hour 
that  you're  the  wust  fooled  man  that  ever  tracked 


282  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

this  jere   prairy,  I'll  give  you  my  boss,   an'  he's 
better'n  your'n  any  day." 

In  obedience  to  the  Lieutenant's  command,  the 
soldiers  closed  about  their  prisoners  on  all  sides,  and 
still  holding  their  revolvers  in  their  hands  in  readi 
ness  to  resist  any  attempt  at  escape,  escorted  them 
to  the  fort  and  through  the  gate.  The  first  man 
they  saw  was  the  Colonel,  who  was  standing  in  the 
door  of  his  quarters.  He  was  greatly  surprised 
to  see  Frank  in  company  with  the  trapper,  but  had 
nothing  to  say  to  him.  He  listened  to  his  son's  ac 
count  of  their  capture,  and  astonished  him  by  order 
ing  him  to  remain  outside  with  his  men,  and  con 
ducting  the  prisoners  into  his  quarters. 

"Now,  Lewis/'  said  he,  uhave  you  anything  to 
tell  me?" 

"  I've  no  explainin'  to  do  jest  now,  Colonel," 
was  the  reply,  "  'cause  I've  got  lots  of  work  afore 
me,  an'  little  time  to  do  it  in.  My  trap  is  ready  to 
be  sprung  now.  If  you  will  give  me  them  twenty- 
five  soldiers  you  promised  me,  I  will  gobble  the 
last  outlaw  on  the  prairy  afore  inornin'." 

The  Colonel's  actions  showed  Frank  how  much 
confidence  he  had  in  Dick.  Without  asking  a  single 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  283 

question  or  making  any  comments,  he  opened  the 
door  again  and  called  to  his  son. 

u  Wallace,"  said  he,  as  the  young  officer  entered; 
"  YOU  will  detail  twenty-five  dismounted  cavalrymen 
at  once,  and  hold  yourself  and  them  in  readiness  to 
obey  this  man's  orders." 

The  Lieutenant  was  too  amazed  to  speak.  He 
opened  his  mouth  and  eyes,  and  looked  from  his 
father  to  the  trapper  as  if  he  did  not  quite  under 
stand  the  order. 

"  Didn't  I  say  you  was  the  wust  fooled  man  in 
the  world?"  exclaimed  Dick,  with  a  laugh. 

"  I  may  tell  you  something  now  that  I  have  been 
obliged  to  keep  a  secret  from  you  for  months,"  con 
tinued  the  Colonel.  "  This  man,  it  is  true,  is  the 
second  in  command  of  the  outlaws  who  have  been 
doing  so  much  mischief,  but  he  is  a  government  scout. 
His  name  is  Lewis.  He  has  got  these  men  at  last 
just  where  he  wants  them,  and  he  promises  to  cap 
ture  them  all  to-night." 

The  Lieutenant's  astonishment  was  unbounded. 
He  hardly  knew  what  to  say.  He  stammered  out 
some  apology  to  Frank  for  having  treated  him  as  an 
outlaw,  and  hurried  from  the  room.  While  he  was 
gone,  Frank,  at  Dick's  request,  gave  the  Colonel  a 


284  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

rapid  account  of  the  adventures  that  had  befallen 
him  since  their  last  interview,  beginning  with  the 
stealing  of  the  trapper's  horse,  and  ending  with  the 
incidents  that  had  happened  in  Potter's  rancho.  He 
handed  out  Walter's  letter,  and  when  the  Colonel 
had  read  it  and  complimented  Frank's  courage,  he 
declared  that  if  his  son  were  in  Walter's  place,  and 
there  was  no  prospect  of  rescuing  him,  he  would 
not  know  what  to  do.  It  would  be  hard  to  leave 
bin i  among  the  outlaws  to  be  hanged  or  shot,  but  at 
the  same  time  his  convictions  of  duty  would  not  per 
mit  him  to  release  their  leader.  It  would  be  a  dis 
tressing  situation  for  a  father  and  a  soldier  to  be 
placed  in. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  Lieutenant  entered  to  report 
that  the  men  were  ready.  After  the  Colonel  had 
promised  to  write  a  note  to  Uncle  Dick,  assuring  him 
of  the  speedy  return  of  his  nephew,  and  had  seen 
Frank  and  the  trapper  provided  with  weapons,  he 
wished  them  success  in  their  undertaking,  and  the 
expedition  set  out  for  Potter's  rancho.  The  first 
mile  was  accomplished  almost  before  they  knew  it, 
for  of  course  the  Lieutenant  wanted  everything  ex 
plained  to  him,  and  when  one  is  engaged  in  relating 
or  listening  to  an  exciting  story,  he  has  little  thought 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  285 

for  anything  else.  Frank,  who  did  the  talking,  had 
not  finished  all  he  had  to  say  by  the  time  they  reached 
the  ravine,  but  there  his  narrative  was  interrupted 
by  the  trapper,  who  began  to  assert  his  authority  as 
commander  of  the  forces.  At  his  request  the  Lieu 
tenant  halted  the  men,  and  Dick  proceeded  to  give 
them  their  instructions  in  a  manner  peculiar  to  him 
self.  u  Now,  then,"  said  he,  "  we've  got  hot  work 
afore  us.  If  thar's  one  among  you  who  can't  look 
into  the  muzzle  of  a  cocked  revolver  without  changin' 
color,  let  him  step  out  of  the  ranks  an'  go  back  to 
the  fort,  'cause  he  won't  be  of  no  'arthly\use  to  us." 

The  trapper  paused,  but  not  a  man  among  the  sol 
diers  moved.  The  Lieutenant  looked  at  Frank. 
"Mr.  Nelson,"  said  he,  "wouldn't  it  be  better  for 
you  to  return  and  leave  this  business  to  those  who 
are  accustomed  to  it  ?  You'll  be  safer  at  the  fort." 

"  Now,  Leftenant,  you're  fooled  agin,"  said  the 
trapper.  "  I  know  that  boy  better'n  you  do  (I  ask 
his  parding  ;  he's  a  man  in  years  an'  size,  but  I 
can't  help  thinkin'  of  him  as  a  boy,  'cause  I've 
knowed  him  so  long),  an'  if  all  of  you  will  stand  up 
to  the  rack  as  long  as  he  will,  we  shan't  have  no 
trouble.  A  feller  who  can  steal  a  boss  out  from 
under  the  noses  of  a  dozen  herders,  an'  go  into  Pot- 


286  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

ter's  rancho  among  them  rascals  without  flinchin', 
can  be  depended  on.  As  I  was  goin'  on  to  say," 
he  added,  turning  to  the  soldiers,  "  from  this  place 
we  must  go  in  Injun  file,  an'  step  as  though  we  were 
treadin'  on  eggs.  Mind  you,  too,  no  talkin',  not 
even  in  a  whisper.  Them  fellers  have  got  ears  like 
painters.  When  we  reach  the  house  I'll  show  each 
one  of  you  whar  to  stand,  an'  then  I'll  go  in  ;  'cause 
thar's  two  fellers  thar  that  I  want  to  get  out  of  harm's 
way,  if  I  can.  One  of  'em  is  an  ole  chap  with  white 
hair  an'  whiskers,  an'  the  other  is  a  boy  dressed  jest 
as  the  Leftenant  is  dressed  now.  When  you  hear 
me  give  an  Injun  yell  come  in,  an'  don't  waste  no 
time  in  doin'  it  nuther.  Holler  like  thar  was  a 
million  of  you — the  more  noise  you  make  the  better  ; 
but  if  you  have  to  use  your  shootin'  irons,  an'  I 
reckon  you  will,  fur  them  fellers  are  a  desperate  lot, 
mind  whar  you  throw  your  bullets,  an'  don't  hurt 
them  two  I  was  a  tellin'  you  of.  That's  all.  Start 
'em  up,  Leftenant!" 

Dick  struck  into  the  path  leading  down  the 
ravine,  Frank  followed  close  at  his  heels,  the  Lieu 
tenant  came  next,  and  the  soldiers  brought  up  the 
rear,  marching  in  single  file.  The  three  miles  that 
lay  between  Potter's  and  the  prairie  seemed  to  have 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  287 

grown  into  six  since  Frank  last  passed  that  way. 
The  trapper  moved  with  a  caution  and  deliberation 
that  seemed  entirely  unnecessary,  and  Frank's 
eagerness  finally  became  impatience,  which  increased 
with  every  step  of  the  way.  At  last,  however,  the 
raucho  was  reached.  How  our  hero  wished  he  had 
the  old  crew  of  the  Boxer  to  back  him  up  !  He 
would  have  ordered  an  immediate  charge  upon  the 
house,  and  overpowered  its  inmates  before  they  had 
time  to  think  twice.  Although  he  had  every  confi 
dence  in  the  trapper,  he  did  not  like  his  slow  and 
cautious  way  of  doing  business.  He  was  all  the 
while  thinking  of  Walter.  He  was  sure  that  there 
would  be  a  fight  in  the  house,  and  he  was  afraid 
that  during  its  progress  his  friend  might  be  struck 
by  a  stray  bullet,  or  injured  in  some  other  way. 
Frank  would  have  tried  to  prevent  that  by  an  im 
mediate  attack. 

"  Youngster,"  whispered  the  trapper,  breaking 
in  upon  his  meditations,  "  see  that  rock  over  thar  ? 
Hide  behind  it  an'  watch  the  house.  If  you  see 
anybody  come  out,  take  notice  which  way  he  goes, 
and  tell  me  when  I  come  back.  Don't  go  to  bein' 
keerless  now." 

Frank,  throwing  himself  on  his  hands  and  knees, 


288  THE  SPOETSMAN'S  CLUB 

crept  off  to  his  station,  while  Dick  proceeded  to  post 
his  men.  So  quietly  was  every  movement  executed 
that  Frank  did  not  hear  even  a  leaf  rustle.  He 
remained  in  his  concealment  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
and  then  began  to  grow  impatient  again.  "  I  am  too 
far  away  from  the  house,"  he  thought.  "  If  Dick 
should  make  the  attack  now,  the  fight  would  be 
over  before  I  could  get  there.  I  am  going  up 
nearer." 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  Frank  crept  slowly 
forward,  and  finally  stopped  behind  another  boulder 
within  twenty  feet  of  the  door.  He  might  have 
approached  even  nearer,  had  he  not  heard  voices 
close  by.  He  looked  over  the  top  of  the  rock,  and 
running  his  eye  along  the  bluif  above  the  house,  dis 
covered  two  men  standing  there.  They  were  talking 
earnestly  in  low  tones,  but  Frank  heard  enough  to 
excite  him  greatly.  "  Thar's  danger  in  it,"  one  of 
the  men  said  ;  "  an'  besides,  Potter  an'  Brazell  want 
to  trade  him  off  fur  the  guv'nor." 

"No  odds  to  us  whether  they  do  or  not,"  said  the 
other.  "We  don't  care  fur  the  guv'nor.  We  want 
money,  an'  this  is  an  easy  way  to  get  it.  You  go  in 
now  an'  relieve  the  feller  who  is  guardin'  the  Lef- 
tenant.  I'll  stay  about,  an'  when  everything  is  still 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  289 

an'  I  know  the  coast  is  cl'ar,  I'll  come  in  an'  tell 
you.  We'll  take  him  to  the  mountains,  an'  make 
him  write  a  letter  to  the  Colonel,  tellin'  him  that 
if  he  will  fork  over  a  thousand  apiece,  we'll  give 
him  up.  We'll  get  it  sure,  'cause  the  Colonel's  got 
money,  an'  he  won't  stand  on  a  couple  of  thousand 
while  his  son's  life  is  in  danger." 

This  was  all  Frank  caught  of  the  conversation, 
for  after  that  it  was  carried  on  in  a  lower  tone,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  the  men  went  into  the  rancho. 
When  they  disappeared,  Frank  settled  down  behind 
the  rock  to  think  the  matter  over.  There  was  only 
one  man  he  knew  of  who  was  a  Lieutenant  and 
whose  father  was  a  Colonel,  and  that  was  Mr.  Gay- 
lord.  He  was  not  a  prisoner  in  the  rancho — he  was 
one  of  Frank's  party  ;  consequently  the  men  must 
have  been  talking  about  Walter.  Frank  hoped  they 
were.  If  they  brought  him  out  intending  to  carry 
him  away,  he  would  teach  them  something.  Elated 
with  the  daring  resolution  he  had  formed,  Frank 
waited  impatiently  to  see  what  was  going  to  happen. 
Another  quarter  of  an  hour  passed,  and  he  began 
to  fear  that  the  men  had  given  up  their  project,  or 
that  something  had  happened  to  prevent  them  from 
carrying  it  into  execution,  when  he  saw  the  door  of 


290  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

the  rancho  partly  opened  and  a  head  thrust   cau 
tiously  out.     A  few  seconds  later  the  door  swung 
wide  open,  and  three  persons  appeared.    One  of  them 
was  Walter,  and  the  others  were  the  men  who  had 
eaten  supper  at  the  Club's  camp-fire.     They  came 
directly  toward  the  rock  behind   which  Frank  was 
concealed,  and  as  they  were  about  to  pass  it,  he 
jumped  up  with  a  revolver  in  each  hand.     The  out 
laws,  astonished  and  alarmed,  dropped  their  weapons 
at  his  command,  and  Frank  was  about  to  reveal  him 
self  to  Walter,  and  had  even  taken  a  step  forward 
intending  to  hand  him  one  of  his  revolvers,  when 
two  men  suddenly  appeared  and  asked  what  was  the 
matter.     Frank  looked  sharply  at  them.     They  did 
not  belong  to  his  own  party,  for  they  were  not  sol 
diers,  and  neither  did  he  remember   to  have  seen 
them  in  the  rancho.     Beyond  a  doubt  they  were  the 
men  Dick  expected  to  find  at  the  station.     Of  course 
their  arrival  put  a  stop  to  his  plan  for  the  liberation 
of  his  friend.     Disappointed  and  indignant,  he  re 
plied  gruffly  to  their  question,  and  ordered  Walter 
and  his  captors  to  face  about  and  march  back  into 
the  rancho.     We  know  what  happened  after  that. 
The  conversation  he  had  overheard  between  the  plot 
ters  enabled  Frank  to    explain   matters  to  Potter, 


AMONG    THE   TRAPPERS.  291 

who,  in  return  for  the  service  our  hero  had  rendered 
the  band,  presented  him  with  his  fine  horse. 

While  this  was  going  on,  Dick  was  busily  engaged 
in  stationing  his  men.  Having  disposed  of  them 
to  his  satisfaction,  he  returned  to  the  place  where  he 
had  left  Frank,  but  was  not  much  surprised  at  not 
finding  him  there.  He  knew  very  well  where  he 
was.  He  had  placed  him  there  to  keep  him  out  of 
danger,  and  the  "  keerless  feller  "  had  run  squarely 
into  it.  As  he  was  about  to  start  toward  the  rancho, 
he  discovered  somebody  crouching  behind  a  rock  a 
little  distance  away. 

"  Who's  that?"  he  demanded. 

"  I'm  Chinny  Billy,"  was  the  reply.  "Is  that 
you,  Brazell?" 

"  Yes.  Come  out  o'  that,"  said  the  trapper,  not 
a  little  surprised  to  see  him  there. 

"  I'm  a  lookin'  fur  Potter's,"  continued  Chinny 
Billy.  "  While  I  was  a  comin'  down,  I  met  somebody 
who  jerked  me  off'n  my  hoss,  tied  me  hand  an'  foot, 
an'  left  me  in  the  bushes  up  thar.  But  as  soon  as 
he  went  away  I  put  in,  an'  by  workin'  my  arms  up 
an'  down  fur  'bout  two  hours,  got  myself  loose.  I 
beared  fellers  comin'  down  the  gully,  so  I  come  too, 


292  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

thinkin'  mebbe  it  would  lead  me  to  Potter's.  I  am 
all  right  now  that  I  have  found  you." 

"Yes,"  said  the  trapper,  "you're  all  right  now. 
Come  in  an'  tell  us  all  about  it." 

When  Dick  and  his  companion  reached  the  house 
they  found  Potter  standing  in  front  of  the  door  talk 
ing  with  one  of  his  men.  They  both  greeted  the 
trapper  with  great  cordiality,  but  looked  suspiciously 
at  the  bare-headed  youth  beside  him.  "  You  needn't 
scowl  at  me  so,"  said  the  boy,  "  I'm  Chinny  Billy. 
I've  been  treated  bad,  /have,  all  along  of  bein'  sent 
fur  to  come  down  here." 

"You!"  exclaimed  Potter,  in  great  amazement; 
"you  hain't  nuther.  Chinny  Billy's  in  the  house 
now." 

"  I  say  he  hain't.  He's  out  of  the  house  now,  an' 
I'm  the  feller.  Hain't  I,  Brazell?" 

The  trapper  nodded  assent,  and  Chinny  Billy  went 
on  to  give  a  rapid  and  greatly  exaggerated  account 
of  his  meeting  with  Frank,  to  which  Potter  and  his 
man  listened  with  unbounded  surprise,  now  and  then 
interrupting  him  with  loud  ejaculations.  When  he 
concluded  Potter  threw  open  the  door  in  a  great 
rage,  declaring  that  there  was  an  enemy  in  the  camp, 
and  that  he  would  make  short  work  with  him. 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  293 

Chinny  Billy  followed  close  at  his  heels  as  he  en 
tered  the  house,  and  the  moment  he  saw  Frank  he 
recognised  him.  "  That's  the  feller  !"  he  shouted. 
"  He  stole  my  hoss  an'  my  name  too,  an'  now  he 
comes  here  an'  passes  hisself  off  fur  me.  He's  a 
spy!" 

A  deathlike  stillness  followed  this  astounding  an 
nouncement.  For  a  moment  the  outlaws  stood 
speechless,  looking  alternately  at  Frank  and  Chinny 
Billy,  and  then  a  growl  of  rage  arose  on  all  sides 
and  a  dozen  hands  moved  toward  as  many  revolvers. 
Frank  saw  and  realized  his  danger.  In  a  minute 
more  the  bullets  would  begin  to  fly,  and  he  was 
standing  close  beside  the  bench  on  which  Walter  was 
sitting.  One  or  the  other,  and  perhaps  both  of  them, 
would  certainly  be  struck.  Springing  forward  as 
quick  as  a  flash  he  extinguished  the  light,  and  seiz 
ing  his  friend  threw  him  upon  the  floor,  at  the  same 
time  calling  upon  Dick  to  give  the  signal  for  the 
attack.  The  trapper  obeyed.  His  wild  Indian  yell 
was  answered  by  a  score  of  hoarse  voices.  Before 
one  could  think  twice  the  room  was  filled  with  sol 
diers,  led  by  the  Lieutenant,  who  carried  a  lighted 
lantern  in  his  hand,  and  the  outlaws,  borne  back  by 
overwhelming  numbers,  were  forced  into  one  corner, 


294  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB 

where  they  stood  cowering  like  frightened  sheep. 
By  the  time  they  recovered  from  their  astonishment 
they  were  powerless  for  mischief,  each  being  seized 
by  two  or  three  soldiers,  one  of  whom  disarmed  him 
while  the  other  slipped  a  pair  of  irons  upon  his 
wrists.  It  was  all  over  in  two  minutes,  and  not  a 
blow  was  struck  or  a  shot  fired.  The  surprise  was 
complete. 

We  need  not  pause  to  tell  how  amazed  the  outlaws 
were  when  they  learned  that  their  capture  had  been 
brought  about  by  one  of  their  most  trusted  men,  or 
to  describe  the  incidents  that  happened  during  the 
few  minutes  our  friends  remained  at  the  rancho. 
Their  adventures  were  ended  for  a  time,  and  our 
story  must  end  with  them.  It  will  be  enough  to 
say  that  Walter  was  speedily  made  acquainted  with 
the  Lieutenant  and  the  trappers,  and  that  between 
him  and  the  former  an  intimacy  at  once  sprung  up 
which  continued  as  long  as  the  Club  remained  at  the 
fort;  that  after  all  the  horses  belonging  to  the  out 
laws  had  been  collected,  the  boys  and  some  of  the 
soldiers  mounted  them  and  escorted  their  prisoners 
to  the  fort,  Frank  riding  the  black  he  so  much  ad 
mired  ;  and  that  as  soon  as  the  captives  had  been 
turned  over  to  the  Colonel,  a  corporal's  guard  went 


AMONG    THE    TRAPPERS.  295 

to  the  quarters  of  the  herders  and  arrested  Chinny 
Billy's  accomplice  in  his  bunk,  while  the  Lieutenant 
and  the  trappers  once  more  mounted  their  horses 
and  set  off  for  the  camp  of  the  buffalo  hunters  to  se 
cure  Mike,  who  was  the  only  one  of  the  band  now 
at  large.  Frank  and  Walter  would  gladly  have  ac 
companied  them,but  the  latter  knew  that  he  ought 
first  to  see  his  uncle,  and  Frank  of  course  would  not 
go  without  him. 

Great  was  the  joy,  and  loud  the  exclamations  of 
delight  that  arose  when  Frank  and  Walter  walked 
into  the  camp  of  their  friends.  The  Club  were  pretty 
well  acquainted  with  some  of  the  adventures  that 
had  befallen  them,  for  the  Colonel,  according  to 
promise,  had  sent  a  note  to  the  old  sailor,  correcting 
the  wrong  opinion  he  had  formed  of  Dick  Lewis  and 
describing  Frank's  exploits ;  but  they  were  none  the 
less  eager  to  have  the  story  repeated.  There  was 
little  sleeping  done  in  their  camp  that  night. 

The  next  day  Dick  and  old  Bob,  having  secured 
the  last  outlaw  and  received  their  discharges  as  scouts, 
joined  Uncle  Dick's  little  train,  and  were  cordially 
welcomed  by  every  member  of  it.  The  Club's  ex 
perience  with  frontiersmen  had  not  thus  far  been 
altogether  to  their  liking,  but  their  subsequent  asso- 


296  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB  AMONG  THE  TRAPPERS 

ciation  with  them,  which  did  not  end  in  one  weel 
or  one  month,  proved  both  agreeable  and  pleasant. 

With  the  promise  that  we  shall  have  something 
to  say  about  it  at  no  distant  day  in  a  New  Series. 
and  that  we  will  then  take  up  the  history  of  the  for 
tunes  of  Henry  Chase,  of  whom  we  have  for  some 
time  lost  sight,  we  will  for  the  present  bid  good-by< 
to  THE  SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB. 


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PHILADELPHIA. 


ALEXANDER  WILSON  AND  CHARLES  LUCIEN 
BONAPARTE. 

AMERICAN  ORNITHOLOGY;  OB,  THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF 
THE  BIRDS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  Illustrated  with  Plates 
engraved  arid  colored  from  original  Drawings  taken  from 
Nature.  By  ALEXANDER  WILSON.  With  a  life  of  the  author, 
by  GEORGE  ORD,  F.R.S.  With  Continuation,  by  CHARLES 
LUCIEN  BONAPARTE  (Prince  of  Musignano).  3  vols.,  imperial 
8vo.,  with  a  folio  volume  of  carefully  colored  plates  embracing 
nearly  400  figures  of  birds  mostly  life  size.  Elegantly  bound  in 
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FHE  SAME,  complete  in  5  vols.,  3  of  letter-press  and  2  vols.  quarto 
of  plates.  Cloth,  extra,  gilt  top,  $97.00  ;  half  Turkey,  gilt  edges, 
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A  new  and  magnificent  edition  of  this  world-renowned  work,  printed 
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best  manner.  The  plates  are  printed  from  the  original  plates,  engraved 
by  Lawson,  "the  first  ornithological  engraver  of  our  age,"  and  are  care 
fully  colored,  after  the  author's  own  copies.  The  superiority  of  this  work 
for  accuracy  of  description  and  naturalness  of  drawing,  has  long  been 
acknowledged.  Daniel  Webster  speaks  of  it  in  the  highest  terms,  say- 
Ing  that  of  the  salt  water  birds,  mentioned  in  Wilson,  "he  had  shot  every 
one,  and  compared  them  with  his  delineations  and  descriptions,  and  IN 
EVERY  CASE  found  them  PERFECTLY  ACCURATE  TO  NATURE."  And  the 
"London  Quarterly  Review  characterized  it  as  "  an  admirable  work,  unequal- 
ed  by  any  publication  in  the  old  world,  for  accurate  delineations  and  just 
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Same  subject,  will  convince  the  most  skeptical  of  its  great  superiority.  One 
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any  one  to  easily  recognize  them  in  nature;  and,  at  the  low  price  it  is  now 
offered,  should  be  in  every  public  and  private  library  of  any  pretentions. 

"With  an  enthusiasm  never  excelled,  this  extraordinary  man  penetrated 
through  the  vast  territories  of  the  United  States,  undeterred  by  forests  or 
jwamps,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  describing  the  native  birds."— Lord  Brougham, 
'Architecture  of  Birds. 

"  Wilson  contemplated  nature  as  she  really  is,  not  as  she  is  represented  in 
books:  he  sought  her  in  her  sanctuaries;— the  shore,  the  mountain,  the 
forest,  were  alternately  his  study,  and  there  he  drank  the  pure  stream  of 
knowledge  at  the  fountain  head."— Swainson. 

"  With  regard  to  the  literary  merit  of  his  American  Ornithology,  passages 
occur  in  the  prefaces  and  descriptions  which,  for  elegance  of  language,  grace 
ful  ease,  and  graphic  power,  can  scarcely  be  surpassed."— Encyclopedia  Britr 
5anica,  Vol.  XXI. 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


EDWARD  GIBBON. 

THE  DECLINE  AND  FALL  OF  THE  ROMAN  EMPIRE.  Witl 
Notes  by  Rev.  H.  H.  Milman.  To  which  is  added  a  complete 
Index.  6  vols.  crown  8vo,  with  a  steel  portrait.  Cloth  extra 
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"Gibbon,  the  architect  of  a  bridge  over  the  dark  gulf  .which  separatee 
ancient  from  modern  times,  whose  vivid  genius  has  tinged  with  brilliant 
colors  the  greatest  historical  work  in  existence."— Alison. 

DAVID  HUME. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND,  FROM  THE  INVASION  OP 
JULIUS  CAESAR  TO  THE  ABDICATION  OF  JAMES  THE 
SECOND,  1688.  A  new  Edition  with  the  author's  last  correc 
tions  and  improvements.  To  which  is  prefixed  a  short  accounl 
of  his  life,  written  by  himself.  With  steel  portrait.  6  vols, 
crown  8vo,  cloth,  extra,  per  set,  $9.00;  sheep,  library  style,  pel 
Bet,  $10.50;  half  calf,  gilt,  per  set,  $18.00. 

"  Considered  as  a  calm  and  philosophic  narrative,  the  history  of  Hum« 
will  remain  as  a  standard  model  for  every  future  age.  His  just  and  profound 
reflections,  the  inimitable  clearness  and  impartiality  with  which  he  ha« 
summed  up  the  arguments  on  both  sides  on  the  most  momentous  questions 
which  have  agitated  England,  as  well  as  the  general  simplicity,  uniform 
clearness,  and  occasional  pathos  of  his  story,  must  for  ever  command  the 
admiration  of  mankind.  In  vain  we  are  told  that  he  is  often  inaccurate, 
sometimes  partial ;  in  vain  are  successive  attacks  published  on  detached 
parts  of  his  narrative,  by  party  zeal  or  antiquarian  research  :  his  reputation 
is  undiminished:  successive  editions  issuing  from  the  press  attest  the  con 
tinued  sale  of  his  work ;  and  it  continues  its  majestic  course  through  the  sea 
of  time,  like  a  mighty  three-decker,  which  never  even  condescends  to 
notice  the  javelins  darted  at  its  sides,  from  the  hostile  canoes  which  from 
time  to  time  seek  to  impede  its  progress."— Aliscm's  Assays. 

THOMAS  BABINGTON  MACAULAY. 

«£HE  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND   FROM    THE   ACCESSION  OF 
JAMES  II.    Standard  Edition,  with  an  Index.    5  vols.  crown 
8vo,  with  a  steel  portrait.     Cloth,  extra,  per  set,  §7.50;  sheep, 
library  style,  per  set,  $8.75 ;  half  calf,  gilt,  $15.00. 
"With  the  rest  of  the  world,  we  come  with  our  homage  to  Macaulay. 
Steady,  strong  and  uniform,  the  stream  of  his  thought  continues  to  flow: 
and,  without  effort,  or  without  outward  sign  of  it,  he  keeps  his  place  as  the 
first  living  (1856)  writer  of  English  prose.      *      *      *     On  whatever  side  we 
look  at  this  book,  whether  the  style  of  it  or  the  matter  of  it,  is  alike  aston 
ishing.    The  style  is  faultlessly  luminous:  every  word  is  in  its  right  place; 
every  sentence  is  exquisitely  balanced;  the  current  never  flags.    Homer, 
according  to  the  Roman  poet,  may  be  sometimes  languid;  Mr.  Macnulay  is 
always  bright,  sparkling,  attractive."—  Westminster  JZeview,  April,  1856. 

DUCHESS  OF  ORLEANS. 

MEMOIR  OF  THE  DUCHESS  OF  ORLEANS.   By  the  MARQTTKM 

DE  H ,  together  with  Biographical  Souvenirs  and  Original 

Letters.  Translated  from  the  French,  by  Prof.  G.  H.  DE 
SCHUBERT.  One  volume,  with  a  portrait  on  steel,  12mo,  pp. 
391.  81.50. 

"  The  materials  of  this  volume  consist  of  a  memoir  by  the  Marquis  de 
H .which  is  an  interesting  narrative  of  the  varied  and  peculiar  for 
tunes  of  the  subject,  and  a  collection  of  souvenirs  and  original  letters  by 
Professor  Schubert,  of  Germany,  who  was  the  family  tuter  of  the  Duchess 
of  Orleans.  The  work  derives  not  a  little  interest  from  the  character  of  the 
Duchess,  which  was  equally  remarkable  for  loveliness,  and  heroism,  especi 
ally  during  her  troubled  career  after  the  abdication  of  Louis  Philippe.  The 
translation  shows  fidelity  and  considerable  skill,  and  will  be  regarded  as  a 
valuable  accession  to  biographical  reading."— Harper's  Magazine. 


SIR  WALTER  SCOTT, 

WAVERLEY  NOVELS.  Complete  in  23  vols.  Illustrated.  Toned 
paper.  Price  per  vol.,  Globe  Edition:  cloth,  extra,  $1.25;  half 
call,  gilt,  $2.75.  Standard  Library  Edition:  cloth,  extra,  gilt  tops, 
bev.  boards,  $1.50;  half  calf,  gilt,  $3.00;  half  inor.,  gilt  tops,  $3.50. 

Waverley.  Pirate. 

Guy  Mannering.  Fortunes  of  Nigel. 

Antiquary.  Peveril  of  the  Peak 

Hob  Hoy."  Quentin  Durwnrd. 

Black  Dwarf,  and  Old  Mortality.         St.  llonan's  Well. 

Heart  of  Mid-Lothian.  lledgauntlet. 

Bride   of   Laivunermoor,   and   A        The  Betrothed,  and  the  Talisman. 
Legend  of  Montrose.  Woodstock. 

Ivanhoe.  Fair  Maid  of  Perth. 

Monastery.  Anno  of  Geierstein. 

Abbot.  Count  Robert  of  Paris,  and  Castla 

Kenilworth.  Dangerous. 

Chronicles  of  the  Canongate. 

This  is  the  best  edition  for  the  library  or  for  general  use  published.  Its 
convenient  size,  the  extreme  legibility  of  the  type,  which  is  larger  than  is 
used  in  any  other  edition,  either  English  or  American,  its  spirited  illustra 
tions,  quality  of  the  paper  and  binding,  and  the  general  execution  of  the 
presswork,  must  comnieiid  it  at  once  to  every  one. 

TALES  OP  A  GRANDFATHER.    Uniform  with  the  "Waverley 

Novels."    Illustrated.    4  vols.     Toned  paper.    Price  per  vol., 

Globe  Edition:  cloth  extra,  $1.25;  half  calf,  gilt,  $2.75.    Standard 

Library  Edition:  cloth  extra,  gilt  tops,  bev.  boards,  $1.50;  half 

•     morocco,  gilt  tops,  $3.00;  halt  calf,  gilt,  $3.50. 

The  only  edition  containing  the  Fourth  Series,  "  Tales  from  French  His 
tory." 

IVANHOE.  A  Romance.  Youth's  Favorite  Edition.  Illustrated. 
Crown  8vo.  $1.50. 

LADY  OF  THE  LAKE.  With  twenty-five  engravings  on  wood, 
from  designs  by  Birket  Foster  and  John  Gilbert.  IGmo.  Bev. 
boards,  $U50 ;  half  calf,  gilt,  S3.00-;  full  Turkey.inor.  antique,  $4.00. 

LIFE  OF  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT,  with  remarks  upon  his  Wri 
tings,  by  Francis  Turner  Palgrave ;  an  Essay  on  Scott,  by  David 
Massoii,  M.A.,  and  Dryburgh  Abbey ;  a  Poem,  by  Charles  Swain. 
12mo.  Illuminated  cover,  30  cents.  With  fine  portrait  on  steel, 
cloth,  extra,  60  cents. 

"  Relates  the  events  in  the  life  of  the  illustrious  novelist  in  an  agreeable 
style,  with  an  unpretending,  but  singularly  acute,  criticism  of  his  writings.  — 
New  York  Tribune. 

"  A  centennial  offering  of  large  worth.  The  biography  is  brief  bat  com 
prehensive,  while  the  remarks  upon  his  writings  which  crop  out  every  here 
and  there,  are  marked  by  great  judgment  and  keen  appreciation."—  Phila- 

"One  of  the  ablest  reviews  of  80»tt's  life  and  works  that  has  ever  been 
written.  It  is  very  able  and  very  just."—  New  York  Evening  Mail. 

THE  BEAUTIES  OF  WAVERLEY.  Selections  of  the  most 
striking  passages  from  the  Waverley  Novels.  With  forty-five 
fine  steel  engravings.  Elegantly  printed  on  fine  paper,  and 
bound  in  the  most  tasty  style.  A  new  and  perennial  gift  book. 
One  volume,  crown  8vo.  Cloth,  full  gilt,  extra,  $5.00;  morocco, 
bevelled  boards,  antique,  $8.00. 


RUFUS  W.  GRISWOLD,  D.D. 

THE  PROSE  WRITERS  OF  AMERICA.  With  a  Survey  of  th 
Intellectual  History,  Condition,  and  Prospects  of  the  Country 
New  edition,  thoroughly  revised  and  completed  to  the  presen 
time,  with  a  supplementary  Essay  on  the  Present  Iritellectua 
Condition  and  Prospects  of  the  Country.  By  Prof.  JOHN  H 
DILLINGIIAM,  A.M.  With  seven  portraits  on  steel  and  vignett 
title.  Imperial  8vo.  Cloth,  extra,  gilt  top,  bevelled  boards 
$5.00;  sheep,  marbled  edges,  library  style,  $0.00:  half  calf,  $7.50 
full  Turkey  morocco,  $10.00. 

"We  are  glad  to  possess,  in  this  form,  portions  of  many  authors  whos 
entire  works  we  should  never  own,  and  if  we  did  should  probably  never  iin< 
time  to  read.  We  confess  our  obligations  to  the  author  for  the  personal  in 
formation  concerning  them  which  he  has  collected  in  the  memoirs  prelixe* 
to  their  writings.  These  are  written  in  a  manner  creditable  to  the  research 
ability,  and  kindness  of  the  author."—  iniUarn  OulUn  Uryant. 

'An  important  and  interesting  contribution  to  our  national  literature 
The  range  of  authors  is  very  wide;  the  biographical  notices  full  and  inter 
esting.  lam  surprised  that  the  author  has  been  able  to  collect  KO  man] 
p  irticulars  in  this  way.  The  selections  appear  to  me  to  be  made  with  dis 
crimination,  and  the  criticisms  show  a  sound  taste  and  a  correct  uppreci 
ation  of  the  qualities  of  the  writers,  as  well  as  I  can  judge."—  William  H 
Prescolt,  the  Historian. 

"  Can  be  cordially  recommended  for  its  sterling  qualities,  and  the  hand 
some  style  in  which  it  has  been  gotten  up  by  the  publishers  makes  it  pai 
ticularly  worthy  of  the  notice  of  those  who  wish  to  make  a  ChristKia 
present  that  will  be  appreciated  by  the  recipient."— Philadelphia  Evenin* 
Telegraph. 

'•Is  really  a  desirable  acquisition  to  any  library,  and,  indeed,  a  librar 
could  scarcely  be  called  complete  without  it."— Marshall  (Mich.)  Times. 

GEMS  FROM  THE  AMERICAN  POETS.  With  brief  biographi 
cal  notices.  With  a  fine  engraving  on  steel.  32mo,  cloth 
CO  cents ;  illuminated  sides,  90  cents ;  Turkey  mor.,  extra,  $1.50 

FREDERIC  H.  HEDGE,  D.D. 

THE  PROSE  WRITERS  OF   GERMANY.     With  Introductions 

Biographical  Notices,  and  Translations.   With  six  portraits  01 

steel  and  engraved  title.    Imperial  Svo.    Cloth,  extra,  gilt  top 

bevelled    boards,  $5.00;    sheep,   marbled   edges,  library  style 

$0.00 ;  half  calf,  gilt,  £7.50 ;  full  Turkey  morocco,  $10.00.     * 

'•There  is  no  book  accessible  to  the  English  or  American  reader  whicl 

can  furnish  so  comprehensive  and  symmetrical  a  view  of  German  literaturi 

to  the  unitiatcd:  and  those  already  conversant  with  some  of  the  Gcrir.ai 

classics  will  iind  here  valuable  and  edifying  extracts  from  works  to  vrhid 

very  low  in  this  country  can  gain  &ccess."—Froj'.A.2J.J>eat>ody,uil\rortl 

American  2£evit.w. 

"  It  is  universally  recognised  as  one  of  the  best  collections  of  specimens  o: 
German  literature  in  the  English  language.  It  has  been  prepared  on  tin 
plan  of  giving  a  limited  selection  of  authors,  with  large  extracts  from  theii 
works.  The  translations  from  the  editor's  own  peri  are  singularly  vigo 
rous,  and  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  task,  he  has  had  the  co-operation  oi 
several  American  scholars."— New  York  Tribune. 

"A  new  and  beautiful  edition  of  a  work  of  sterling  merit.  Compilations 
are  good  even  in  our  own  language,  for  so  great  is  the  multitude  of  books 
that  few  have  leisure  to  read  a  tithe  of  them.  But  to  the  great  stores  of  lit 
erature  in  foreign  tongues,  only  those  skilled  in  them  have  access.  The 
treasures  of  German  literature  are  inaccessible  to  most  American  readers, 
It  is,  therefore,  no  common  addition  to  our  information  and  pleasure,  to 
have  put  before  us  well  selected  passages  of  the  best  works  of  the  most  cele 
brated  German  authors.  This  is  done  with  the  most  excellent  judgment  in 
this  volume.  The  reader  of  it  will  here  form  some  acquaintance  with  the 
principal  German  classics,  and  that  acquaintance  he  may  improve  by  a 
lurther  perusal  of  those  which  he  finds  most  to  his  taste.  Enough,  however, 
s  given  to  furnish  an  ample  specimen  of  the  style  and  method  of  each 
writer.  Many  complete  pieces  are  furnisbed.  Among  those  to  whom  con 
siderable  space  is  accorded,  are  Kant,  Lossing,  Herder,  Goethe,  Schiller,  the 
Benlcgels,  Kichter,  Heiue ;  with  these  are  many  others  of  celebrity."— Age, 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


HENRY  WADSWORTH  LONGFELLOW. 

THE  POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  EUROPE.  A  New  and  Revised 
Edition,  with  the  addition  of  137  pages  of  entirely  new  matter, 
never  before  published,  making  it  one  of  the  most  elegant  and 
complete  works  extant.  with  Introduction.  Biographical 
Notices,  and  Translations,  from  the  earliest  period  to  the  pres 
ent  time.  By  Prof.  HENRY  WADSWOKTH  LONGFELLOW.  Illus 
trated  with  engravings  on  steel  and  engraved  title.  Imperial 
8vo.  Cloth,  extra  gilt  top,  beveled  boards,  $6;  sheep,  marbled 
edges,  library  style,  $7.50;  half  calf,  gilt,  $9;  Turkey  morocco, 

"  In  all  this  there  is  great  clearness  and  precision ;  the  details  dear  to  the 
Student  of  a  particular  literature  or  literary  epoch,  but,  confusing  to  the 
average  culture,  are  sacrificed  to  the  fullness  with  which  the  principal  and 
important  features  are  brought  out.  Whenever  it  is  possible,  the  criticism 
is  lounded  upon  the  opinions  of  each  writer's  countrymen,  and  in  all  cases 
it  appears  to  us  that  the  best  authorities  are  consulted ;  and  one  of  the  best 
is  Mr.  Longfellow  himself,  who  speaks  his  own  mind  only  too  sparingly. 
His  work  is  often  merely  that  of  an  editor,  but  he  does  it  with  that  taste, 
sympathy  and  good  sense,  which  his  whole  literary  life  embodies  in  such 
degree,  that  we  feel  anything  else  to  be  impossible  with  him,  and  gives  it 
thus  the  finest  value  of  original  production.  The  labor  involved  in  the 
preparation  of  such  a  volume  as  this,  will  by  no  means  appear  to  the 
general  reader  it  delights,  and  to  whom  we  venture  to  suggest  grateful  con 
sideration  of  the  vast  acquaintance  with  authors  and  authorities,  the  tacit 
service  of  comparison  and  selection  implied  by  the  abundance  and  the 
succinctness  with  which  every  topic  is  treated.  We  will  not  say  that  here  is 
all  the  general  reader  need  know  of  the  poets  and  poetry  of  Europe,  but  we 
assure  him  that  he  cannot  do  better  than  possess  himself  of  all  the  infor 
mation  here  given,  and  that  he  could  no  where  else  find  it  so  availably 
and  so  agreeably  presented,  and  with  so  little  that  he  need  not  know. 
To  this  new  edition  Mr.  Longfellow  has  added  a  supplement  of  137 
pages,  devoted  to  such  poets  as  have  recently  won  distinction,  and  to  the 
poets  whom  recent  study  has  brought  into  n9tice  anew.  The  poems  in  this 
supplement  are  marked  by  that  greater  fidelity  and  regard  to  the  originals 
Which  no  one  has  done  half  so  much  to  urge  upon  translators  as  Mr.  Long 
fellow  himself,  in  the  high  example  of  his  '  Dante."  Here  are  his  own  ex 
quisite  translations  from  German,  French,  Italian,  and  Spanish ;  here  is  one 
version,  most  sympathetically  tender  and  spirited,  by  Mr.  Lowell ;  here  is  a 
part  of  Faust  in  Bayard  Taylor's  conscientious  and  admirable  English ;  here 
are  some  songs  from  Heine,  by  Leland;  here  are  Mrs.  Wister's  charming 
pieces  from  De  Musset;  here  are  Bryant's  Specimens  of  modern  Spanish, 
poetry ;  here  are  Bosetti's  beautiful  versions  from  the  earliest  Italian  poets, 
and  here  are  abundant  extracts  from  the  latest.  The  supplement,  in  fact, 
lays  before  the  reader  the  freshest  and  best  poetry  of  all  Europe,  and  wor 
thily  completes  the  work.  It  is  not  easy  to  give  a  just  idea  of  its  merits  and 
graces,  but  those  who  already  know  it  will  not  need  a  lecture  from  us  upon 
it,  and  to  those  who  do  not  we  can  but  heartily  commend  it."— Atlantic 
Monthly,  January,  1871. 

"  This  edition  has  been  revised  and  enlarged  by  the  author,  and  contains 
his  best  touches  and  corrections  to  his  labors.  But  they  have  stood  the  test 
of  criticism.  Their  accuracy  and  felicity  have  been  acknowledged  by  the 
best  scholars  in  Europe.  The  attainments  of  Mr.  Longfellow  as  a  linguist 
have  been  recognized  by  those  best  qualified  to  judge  them  in  each  sphere 
of  his  labors.  .  .  .  In  it  is  giyen,  in  a  convenient  form,  a  summary  of  the 
poetic  literature  of  Europe  which  is  not  to  be  found  elsewhere."— The  Age, 
Philadelphia. 

"It  is  now  a  better  book  than  ever,  the  Professor  having  added  an  ap 
pendix  and  supplement,  the  latter  dated  1870,  containing  a  very  precious 
list  of  newer  poetical  translations.  .  .  .  The  supplement  is  very  choice 
and  interesting,  and  absolutely  rejuvenates  the  work.  Here  we  have  speci- 

L  -at  received  In  corn- 
Daughter,  &c.,  <fec. 


mens  from  Bayard  Taylor's  translation  of  Faust,  not  yet  received  in  com 
plete  book  form,  a  charming  passage  from  King  Rene's  Daughter,  &c.,  <fcc. 
The  whole  volume  is  an  acquisition  to  our  letters,  and  to  that  disposition  of 
literary  curiosity,  an  honorable  distinction  of  the  American  people,  which 
has  made  such  a  difficult  work,  so  well  done,  necessary."— TM  Evening 
Bulletin^  Philadelphia. 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


DEAN   STANLEY. 

SERMONS  PREACHED  during  his  Tour  in  the  East.  Wit 
Notices  of  some  of  the  Localities  visited.  Published  by  arrangi 
ment  with  the  author.  New  edition.  With  plan  and  diagram 
12mo,  cloth  extra,  $1.50. 

Dean  Stanley's  Sermons  are  famous,  as  finished  specimens  of  pulpit  or 
tory,  and  the  fourteen  comprised  in  this  volume  are  pre-eminently  chara 
teristic'of  their  distinguished  author.  They  are  specially  interesting  for  tl 
very  graphic  description  of  the  various  localities  visited  during  the  tour : 
\e  course  of  which  they  were  delivered. 

Three  of  these  sermons  were  preached  in  Egypt,  on  the  Nile,  and  in  tl 
^reat  hall  of  the  Temple  of  Karnak ;  four  were  preached  in  Palestine,  i 
the  harbor  of  Jaffa,  at  Jacob's  Well,  at  Nazareth,  and  by  the  Sea  of  Galile* 
three  more  were  preached  in  Syria,  on  Mt.  Hermon,  in  the  Temple  of  Baa 
bee,  and  under  the  cedars  of  Lebanon ;  three  were  preached  upon  the  Med 
terranean,  with  the  fresh  impressions  of  Ephesus,  Patmos,  and  Malta,  & 
These  circumstances  of  composition  and  delivery  would  give  interest  eve 
to  ordinary  discourses.  But  these  are  not  ordinary.  The  thought  is  simpl 
but  very  free  and  vsry  wide.  It  is  not  merely  illustrative  of  the  scenes  ar 
the  history,  but  it  is  excellent  counsel,  both  practical  and  spiritual,  to  tl 
principal  listeners."— 3forth  American  Review  for  July,  1863. 


REV.  TREADWELL  WALDEN. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  OUR  ENGLISH  BIBLE  AND  ITS  SEVE] 
ANCESTORS.  An  Historical  Plea  for  Revision.  16mo,  tinte 
paper.  Cloth  extra,  &1.25. 

"  In  itself  a  story  of  profound  interest,  the  ripe  and  elegant  scholarship  < 
the  author  gives  it  many  additional  charms ;  and  it  is  specially  welcome  no\ 
when  our  version  of  the  Holy  Book  is  to  take  another  step  forward,  and  a 
Bume  that  additional  completeness  necessary  for  a  new  age."— Christie 
Union  (Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Editor). 

w  We  cordially  commend  it  to  the  attention  of  our  students  and  minister 
as  a  summary  of  useful  and  highly  interesting  information,  even  if  they  d 
not  agree  with  the  author  on  every  point."—  United  Presbyterian,  Pittsburgi 

"In  this  neatly  printed  little  volume,  Mr.  Walden  has  gathered  informatio 
concerning  our  English  Bible,  which  everybody  ought  to  possess,  but  whic 
is  not  easy  of  access."— Old  School  Presbyterian,  St.  Louis. 

"The  book  is  extremely  interesting,  and  will  not  fail  to  carry  fresh  info: 
mation  to  very  many  readers."—  Watchman  and  Reflector  (Baptist). 

"  The  work  exhibits  great  research  and  scholarship,  and  is  written  in  a  cles 
and  graceful  style."— Lutheran  Observer. 

"  A  very  Christian  and  scholarly  effort."— Methodist  Protestant,  Baltimore 

"An  admirable  popular  account  of  the  successive  steps  in  the  growth  of  th 
English  version  of  the  Bible,  from  the  first  attempt  by  Wickliffe  down  totfc 
final  revision  in  the  reign  of  King  James."— Sunday-School  Times. 


THOMAS  A'KEMPIS. 

OF  THE  IMITATION  OF  CHRIST.  Four  books.  New  Editior 
beautifully  printed  on  toned  paper.  18mo,  cloth,  extra,  54  cts. 
cloth,  extra,  beveled  boards,  red  edges,  gilt  stamp  on  side,  7 
cents;  cloth,  extra,  beveled  boards,  gilt  edges,  gilt  stamp  01 
side,  $1.00;  full  Turkey  morocco,  antique,  gilt  edges,  $2.50;  fuJ 
calf,  antique,  $2.50. 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


WILLIAM  SHAKSPEARE. 

COMPLETE  WORKS.  Dramatic  and  Poetical,  with  the  "Epistle 
Dedicatorie,"  and  the  Address  prefixed  to  the  edition  of  1G23,  a 
Sketch  of  the  Life  of  the  Poet,  by  ALEXANDER  CHALMERS, 
A.M.,  and  Glossarial  and  other  Notes  and  References.  Edited 
by  GEORGE  Lo^a  DUYCKINK.  With  nine  full-page  steel  Illus 
trations,  a  superb  portrait  on  steel,  from  the  celebrated  Droes- 
hout  picture,  and  beautiful  engraved  title,  on  steel.  97G  pases. 
Imperial  8vo.  Cloth,  extra,  gilt  back,  $3.75  ;  sheep,  library  style, 


FINE  EDITION  OP  THE  ABOVE,  on  extra  calendered  paper, 
with  the  addition  of  a  History  of  the  Early  Drama  and  Stage 
to  the  time  of  Shakspeare,  a  full  and  comprehensive  Life,  by 
J.  PAYNK  COLLIER,  A.M.,  Shakspeare's  Will,  critical  and  his 
torical  Introductions  to  each  play,  arid  thirty-five  full-page 
tinted  engravings,  from  designs  by  Nicholson,  a  superb  por 
trait  on  steel  from  the  celebrated  Droeshout  picture,  and 
beautiful  engraved  title  on  steel.  Imperial  8vo.  1084  pages 
Half  calf,  gilt,  $8.75  ;  full  Turkey  morocco,  $10.00. 

POEMS  AND  SONNETS.  With  a  fine  engraving  on  steel.  32mo. 
Cloth,  60  cts.;  illuminated  side,  90  cts.;  Turkey  morocco,  $1.50. 

THOMAS  PERCY,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Dromore. 

KELIQUES  OP  ANCIENT  ENGLISH  POETRY:  consisting  of 
Old  Heroic  Ballads,  Songs,  and  other  pieces  of  the  earlier  poets 
with  some  of  later  date,  not  included  in  any  other  edition. 
To  which  is  now  added  a  Supplement  of  many  Curious  His 
torical  and  Narrative  Ballads,  reprinted  from  rare  copies 
with  a  copious  glossary  and  notes.  New  edition,  uniform  with 
the  above.  558pp.  Imperial  8yo.  Two  steel  plates.  Fine  cloth 
bev.  bds.,  gilt,  $3.75;  sheep,  library  style,  $4.50;  full  Turkey 
morocco,  $10.00. 

"But,  above  all,  I  then  first  became  acquainted  with  Bishop  Percy's 
Reliques  of  Ancient  Poetry  .....  I  remember  well  the  spot  where  I 
read  these  volumes  for  the  first  time.  It  was  beneath  a  huge  plautanus 
tree,  in  the  ruins  of  what  had  been  intended  for  an  old-fashioned  arbor,  in 
the  garden  I  have  mentioned.  The  suaimor  day  sped  around  so  fast,  that 
notwithstanding  the  sharp  appetite  of  thirteen,  I  lorgct  the  hour  of  din 
ner,  was  sought  for  with  anxiety,  and  was  still  iound  entranced  in  my 
Intellectual  banquet.  To  read  and  to  remember  was  in  this  instance  the 
same  tiling,  and  henceforth  I  overwhelmed  my  schoolfellows,  and  all  who 
would  hearken  to  me,  with  tragical  recitations  from  the  ballads  of  Bishop 
Percy.  The  first  time  I  could  scrape  a  few  shillings  together,  which  were 
not  common  occurrences  with  me,  I  bought  unto  myself  a  copy  of  these 
beloved  volumes,  nor  do  I  believe  I  ever  read  a  book  half  so  frequently,  or 
with  half  the  enthusiasm."—  Memoirs  of  his  early  Life,  by  Sir  Walter  Scott 
prefixed  to  Lockhart's  Lije  of  Scott. 

LORD  BYRON. 

COMPLETE  WORKS.  Prose  and  Poetry.  With  five  engravings 
on  steel.  Imp.  8vo.  Sheep,  library  style,  $4.50;  Turkey  mo 
rocco,  antique,  $10.00. 

"If  the  finest  poetry  be  that  which  leaves  the  deepest  impression  on  the 
minds  of  its  readers,—  and  this  is  not  the  worst  test  of  its  excellence,—  Lord 
Byron,  we  think,  must  be  allowed  to  take  precedence  of  all  his  distinguished 
contemporaries.  'Words  that  breathe,  and  thoughts  that  burn,'  are  not 
merely  ornaments,  but  the  common  staple  of  his  poetry;  and  he  is  not  in- 
Bpired  or  impressive  only  in  some  happy  passages,  but  through  the  whole 
body  and  tissue  of  his  composition."—  Lord  Jeffrey,  Edinburgh  Review. 

THE  MORAL  AND  BEAUTIFUL  IN  THE  POEMS  OF  LORD 
BYRON.  Edited  by  REV.  WALTER  COI/TON.  32mo.  Cloth,  GO 
cts.;  illuminated  side,  90  cts.;  Turkey  morocco,  $1.50. 


PORTER  &  COATES*  PUBLICATIONS. 


THOMAS  HOOD. 

COMPLETE  WORKS.  Prose  and  Poetry.  Illustrated.  5  vols., 
crown  8vo,  tinted  paper.  Cloth,  extra,  per  vol.,  $1.75;  half  calf 
gilt,  per  vol.,  $3.50;  half  morocco,  antique,  per  vol.,  $3.25. 

"  This  very  good  edition  of  a  favorite  author  has  the  advantage  of  bem§ 
lower  in  price  and  neater  in  appearance  than  any  other  yet  published  ir 
this  country."— The  Press,  Philadelphia. 

POETICAL  WORKS.  2  vols.,  crown  8vo,  tinted  paper.  Cloth,  extra 
per  vol.,  $1.75:  half  calf,  gilt,  per  vol.,  83.50;  half  morocco,  gill 
top,  per  vol.,  $3.50. 

SELECT  POETICAL  WORKS.  With  a  fine  engraving  on  steel 
32mo.  Cloth,  60 cents;  illuminated  side,  90  cents ;  Turkey  mo 
rocco,  $1.50. 

"  Hood's  verse,  whether  serious  or  comic,— whether  serene,  like  a  cloud 
less  autumn  evening,  or  sparkling  With  puns  like  a  frosty  January  midnighi 

with  stars,— was  ever  pregnant  with  materials  for  thought Lik< 

every  author  distinguished  for  true  comic  humor,  there  was  a  deep  vein  01 
melancholy  pathos  running  through  his  mirth;  and  even  when  his  sur 
shone  brightly,  its  light  seemed  often  reflected  as  if  only  over  the  rim  of  t 
cloud.— D.  M.  Mbir. 

UP  THE  RHINE.  Crown  8vo,  tinted  paper.  Cloth,  extra,  $1.75 
half  calf,  gilt,  $3.50;  half  morocco,  antique,  $3.25. 

HOOD'S  COMICALITIES.  A  Series  of  Comical  Pictures  fronc 
Hood.  Containing  200  illustrations,  by  Thomas  Hood.  Fullj 
equal  to  Leech's  and  Cruikshank's  admirable  drawings.  Oblonj 
quarto.  Half  morocco,  extra,  $4.00. 


JOHN  MILTON. 

COMPLETE  WORKS.  Standard  Edition.  With  a  Life  of  th( 
Author,  by  Rev.  John  Mitford.  2  vols.,  crown  8vo,  laid  and 
tinted  paper,  largest  type,  $4.00.  Library  edition,  with  engra 
vings  on  steel,  1  vol.,  8vo,  sheep,  library  style,  $4.50 ;  Turkej 
morocco,  antique,  $10.00. 

ROBERT  BURNS. 

COTTER'S  SATURDAY  NIGHT.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  flft: 
engravings  from  drawings  by  Chapman.  Engraved  by  Filmei 
Beautifully  printed  by  Ashmead,  on  the  finest  tinted  plat 
paper.  4to,  cloth  extra,  bev.  boards,  $4.50;  Turkey  morocco 
antique,  $9.00. 

This  noblest  poem  of  "the  greatest  poet  that  ever  sprang  from  the  boson 
of  the  people"  until  the  issue  of  this  edition  had  never  been  detached  fron 
the  collected  works  of  Burns,  to  receive  the  adornments  of  art  which  hav< 
been  so  bountifully  and  lovingly  bestowed  on  Gray's  "  Elegy,"  Goldsmith 
"Deserted  Village."  Coleridge's  "Ancient  Mariner,"  Thomson's  "Seasons,1 
and  other  kindred  treasures  of  English  verse.  The  poem  itself  is  a  classic 
and  the  beauty  and  appropriateness  of  the  illustrations  to  be  found  in  thi 
edition,  place  it  far  ahead  of  any  other. 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


EDWARD,  EARL  OF  DERBY. 

THE  ILIAD  OF  HOMER  RENDERED  INTO  ENGLISH  BLANK 
VERSE.  From  the  ninth  London  edition,  with  all  the  author's 
latest  revisions  and  corrections.  With  a  Biographical  Sketch 
of  Lord  Derby,  by  R.  SHELTON  MACKENZIE,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.  Two 
volumes,  crown  8vo,  on  laid  and  tinted  paper,  gilt  top,  beveled 
boards,  cloth  extra,  $4.00. 

"It  must  equally  be  considered  a  splendid  performance;  and  for  the 
present  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  it  i.s  by  far  the  best  representa 
tion  of  Homer's  Iliad  in  the  English  language."— -London  Times. 

"  The  merits  of  Lord  Derby's  translation  may  be  summed  up  it  one  word; 
It  is  eminently  attractive :  it  is  instinct  with  life ;  it  may  be  read  with  fer 
vent  interest ;  it  is  immeasurably  nearer  than  Pope  to  the  text  of  the  origi 
nal.  .  .  .  It  will  not  only  be  read,  but  read  over  again  and  again 

Lord  Derby  has  given  to  England  a  version  far  more  closely  allied  to  the 
original,  and  superior  to  any  that  has  yet  been  attempted  in  the  blank  verse 
of  our  language."— Edinburg  Review. 

"  As  often  as  we  return  from  even  the  best  of  them  (other  translations)  to 
the  translation  before  us,  we  find  ourselves  in  a  purer  atmosphere  of  taste. 
We  find  more  spirit,  more  tact  in  avoiding  either  trivial  or  conceited 
phrases,  and,  altogether,  a  presence  of  merits,  and  an  absence  of  defects, 
which  continues,  as  we  read,  to  lengthen  more  and  more  the  distance  be 
tween  Lord  Derby  and  the  foremost  of  his  competitors."— London  Quarterly 

"While  the  versification  of  Lord  Derby  is  such  as  Pope  himself  would 
have  admired,  his  Iliad  is  in  all  other  essentials  superior  to  that  of  kis  great 
rival.  It  is  the  Iliad  we  would  place  in  the  hands  of  English  readers  as  the 
truest  counterpart  of  the  original,  the  nearest  existing  approach  to  a  repro 
duction  of  that  original's  matchless  feature."— London  Saturday  Review. 


REV.  JOHN  KEBLE. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  YEAR:  Thoughts  in  verse  for  the  Sundays 
and  Holidays  throughout  the  Year.  IGmo,  (Jlotk,  red  line, 
beautifully  printed,  $1.50;  Turkey  morocco,  antique,  gilt 
edges,  $3.50. 

11  In  this  volume  old  Herbert  would  have  recognized  a  kindred  spirit,  and 
Walton  would  have  gone  on  a  pilgrimage  to  make  acquaintance  with  the 
author."— -London  Quarterly  Review. 

"  These  and  many  other  thoughts  and  feelings  concerning  the  '  vision  and 
the  faculty  divine,'  when  employed  on  divine  subjects,  have  arisen  in  our 
hearts,  on  reading— which  we  have  often  done  with  delight— The  Christian 
Year,  so  full  of  Christian  poetry  of  the  purest  character.  Mr.  Keble  is  a 
(poet  whom  Cowper  himself  would  have  loved;  for  in  him  piety  inspires 
jgenius,  and  fancy  and  feeling  are  celestialized  by  religion.  We  peruse  his 
[book  in  a  tone  and  temper  ot  spirit  similar  to  that  which  is  breathed  on  us 
by  some  calm  day  in  spring,  when 

1  Heaven  and  earth  do  make  one  imagery,' 

land  all  that  imagery  is  serene  and  still,— cheerful  in  the  main,  yet  with  a 
touch  and  tinge  of  melancholy  which  makes  all  the  blended  bliss  and  beauty 
tot  once  more  endearing  and  profound.  We  should  no  more  think  of  criti- 
jCizing  such  pootry  than  criticizing  the  clear  blue  skies,  the  soft  green  earth, 
the  '  liquid  lapse '  of  an  unpolluted  stream,  that 

'Doth  make  sweet  music  with  the  enamell'd  stones, 
Giving  a  gentle  kiss  to  every  flower 
It  overtaketh  on  its  pilgrimage.' 

iBeauty  Is  there,— purity  and  peace :  as  we  look  and  listen  we  partake  of  the 
finiversal  calm,  and  feel  in  nature  the  presence  of  Him  from  whom  it 
terminated."— Recreations  of  Christopher  North,  (John  Wilson). 


10         PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


CHARLES  FENNO  HOFFMAN. 

COMPLETE  POETICAL  WORKS.  Edited  by  his  nephew,  ED 
WARD  FENNO  HOFFMAN.  New  Library  Edition,  coiitainim 
several  poems  never  before  published.  With  a  new  portrai 
on  steel  by  Whiteclmrch,  from  a  painting  by  Inman.  Beautl 
fully  printed  on  laid  and  tinted  paper.  16mo,  cloth,  extra,  bev 
eled  boards,  gilt  top,  $1.75. 

CUMMINOTON,  MASS.,  Aug.  5, 1873. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :— I  congratulate  you  on  the  completion  of  the  task  whicl 
you  have  undertaken  of  collecting  the  poetical  productions  of  your  unclt 
Charles  Fenno  Hoffman,  whom,  while  he  lived  in  New  York,  I  was  prom 
to  reckon  among  my  friends,  and  whose  kindly  and  generous  temper  am 
genial  manners  won  the  attachment  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  poems  bea 
the  impress  of  his  noble  character.  They  are  the  thoughts  of  a  man  of  eml 
nent  poetic  sensibilities,  who  delights  to  sing  of  whatever  moves  the  humai 
heart— the  domestic  affections,  patriotic  reminiscences,  the  traditions  o 
ancient  loves  and  wars,  and  the  ties  of  nature  and  friendship.  Thes< 
thoughts  are  expressed  in  musical  versification  with  the  embellishments  o 
a  ready  fancy.  The  friends  of  your  uncle  have  reason  to  thank  you  for  pre 
sonting  thorn  in  this  manner  the  moral  and  intellectual  image  of  him  whoa 
they  have  had  such  reason  to  esteem. 

I  am,  sir,  very  truly  yours, 

WM.  CULLEN  BRYANT. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH   F.  ELLET. 

PIONEER  WOMEN  OF  THE  WEST.  One  volume,  12mo,  pp.  43 
Illustrated,  cloth  extra,  $1.50. 

The  history  of  the  wives  and  mothers  who  ventured  into  the  Wester 
wilds,  and  bore  their  part  in  the  struggles  and  labors  t-f  the  early  pioneer 
is  sketched  in  this  work.  The  materials  were  collected  from  the  records  < 
private  families,  and  the  recollections  of  individuals  who  passed  throug 
the  experiences  of  frontier  and  forest  life.  Descriptions  of  the  domestic  lii 
and  manners  of  the  pioneers,  and  illustrative  anecdotes,  have  been  wove 
into  the  memoirs  of  prominent  women,  and  notice  has  bejn  taken  of  sue 
political  events  as  had  an  influence  on  the  condition  of  the  country. 

"The  biographies  contain  fine  descriptions,  enlivened  with  anecdotes  < 
the  domestic  life  and  manners  of  those  pioneer  matrons,  and  are  worthy  < 
a  perusal."— The  Watchman  and  Reflector  (Baptist). 

"This  volume  is  devoted  to  the  history  of  the  wives  and  mothers  wh 
bore  a  part  in  the  struggles  of  the  early  pioneers  in  the  Western  wilds.  Mr 
Ellet  is  familiar  with  this  branch  of  the  American  annals.  She  has  give 
much  time  to  research  on  this  subject.  Her  inquiries  have  been  attende 
with  remarkable  success.  Gathering  a  rich  fund  of  local  anecdote  an 
tradition,  furnished  with  interesting  details  by  the  descendants  and  tt 
acquaintances  of  her  subjects,  and  in  many  cases  visiting  the  scenes  of  the 
adventures,  she  has  obtained  abundant  materials  for  an  attractive  worl 
and  has  wrought  them  up  with  evident  ability  and  good  taste.  Her  volum 
though  full  of  interest  to  all  classes  of  readers,  is  especially  adapted  lor  ci 
culation  at  the  Great  West."— Harper's  Magazine,. 

AGNES  STRICKLAND. 

STORIES  FROM  HISTORY.    12mo,  illustrated,  cloth  extra,  Mac 

and  gold.    Price,  $1.25. 
TRUE  STORIES  FROM  ANCIENT  HISTORY.    Chronologicall 

arranged  from  the  Creation  of  the  World  to  the  Death  of  (Jharlt 

magne.    12mo,  illustrated,  cloth  extra,  black  and  gold.    $1.25. 
STORIES  FROM  MODERN  HISTORY.     12mo,  illustrated,  clot 

extra,  black  and  gold.    $1.25. 
STORIES  FROM  ENGLISH  HISTORY.     12mo,  illustrated,  clot 

extra,  black  and  gold.    $1.25. 

"  Miss  Strickland  has  performed  her  task  with  taste  and  ability."— Londo 
Atteneum. 


PORTER  &  CO  AXES'  PUBLICATIONS.        11 


FHE  LEADERS  OP  FRANCE;  OK,  THE  MEN  OF  THE  THIKD"RE- 
PUBLIC.  Biographical,  Historical  and  Character  {Sketches. 
12mo,  satin  clotn,  black  and  gold,  $1.75. 

CONTENTS.— M.  Thiers:  Marshal  MacMahon;  M.  Gambetta; 
M.  Grevy;  M.  Barthelemy  St.  Hilaire;  M.  Rouher-  The  Due  do 
Broglie;  M.  Dufaure;  M.  Alexandre  Dumas;  The  Due  D' Audi- 
fir  et  Pasquier;  M.  Ernest  Picard;  General  Faidherbe;  Bishop 
Dupanloup;  M.  Louis  Veuillot;  The  Due  D'Aumale;  M.  Ernile 
de  Girardin;  Father  Hyacinthe;  M.  M.  Erckmann-Chatrian ; 
M.  Henri  Rochefort;  M.  Edmond  About;  M.  Casimir  Pericr; 
M.  Jules  Simon;  M.  V ictorien  Sardou;  Admiral  Pothuau ;  M. 
Louis  Blanc ;  M.  Victor  Hugo. 

"  These  essays  are  the  work  of  no  'prentice  hand.  They  show  not  only  a 
nastery  of  analytic  and  picturesque  description,  but  an  intimate  acquaint- 
ince  with  the  literature,  the  politics,  and  even  the  gossip  of  France  and 
England  during  the  past  half  century.  *  *  *  *  Whoever  wants  instruc- 
iion  in  the  living  politics  and  letters  of  France,  cannot  get  it  under  a  more 
•ational  or  fascinating  tutor  than  the  unknown  author  of  The  Men  of  the 
Third  Republic."— The  Christian  Union,  N.  Y. 

"A  collected  republication  of  the  very  brilliant  and  well  informed  sketches 
nrhich  excited  much  attention  and  speculation  on  their  appearance  in  the 
Daily  News,  and  led  men  to  ask  whether  there  could  be  on  the  English  press 
rwo  men  with  opportunity  and  ability  like  those  of  the  author  of  "  The 
MEembor  for  Paris."  Here  are  h've-and-twenty  sketches  of  notabilities  who. 
Ince  Sedan,  have  been  prominent  in  French  affairs,  from  M.  Thiers  and 
rules  Simon  to  Alexandre  Dumas,  Louis  Blanc,  and  Victor  Hugo  ;  while  the 
iccount  of  such  less-known  politicians  as  Gambetta,  Grevy,  liouher,  Du- 
»ure,  Ilochefort,  Girardin,  will  be  interesting  from  the  freshness  of  their 
.nformation.  Huch  brilliant  and  sagacious  sketches  as  those  of  Thiers,  Louis 
Blanc,  and  Jules  Simon  will  be  read  very  eagerly.  So  with  the  characteriza- 
;lons  of  literary  celebrities  like  Dumas,  M.  M.  Erckmann-Chatrian,  Ed- 
aaond  About,  and  Victor  Hugo.  The  charm  and  value  of  most  of  these 
iketches  are,  that  they  are  histories  as  well  as  portraits.  It  argues  well  for 
France  that  novels  like  those  of  M.  M.  Erckmann-Chatrian  are  superseding 
ihose  of  Dumas  and  Paul  DeKock,  and  penetrating  every  village."— British 
Quarterly  Review  (the  highest  authority  in  England). 

Rev.  WM.  BACON  STEVENS,  Bishop  of  Penna. 

SUNDAY  AT  HOME.  A  Manual  of  Home  Service,  intended  for 
those  who  are  occasionally  hindered  from  attending  the  House 
of  God.  With  Sermons  and  a  Selection  of  Hymns.  12mo,  cloth, 

*     extra,  $1.50;  cloth,  extra,  beveled  boards,  red  edges,  $2.00. 


HOUSEHOLD  WORSHIP.  Partly  responsive.  A  book  of  Family 
Prayers.  By  a  Layman  With  an  Introduction  by  REV.  DAN 
IEL  MARCH,  author  of  "  Night  Scenes  in  the  Bible,"  &c.  12mo, 
cloth,  extra,  $1.25;  cloth,  extra,  beveled  boards,  red  edges,  $1.75. 

JOHN   BUNYAN. 

FHE  PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS,  FROM  THIS  WORLD  TO  THAT 
WHICH  IS  TO  COME.  With  four  beautiful  illustrations, 
printed  in  colors.  Large  type.  IGmo.  Cloth,  extra,  $1.25; 
morocco,  $3.00 ;  Turkey,  antique,  $4.00. 

"  There  is  no  book  in  our  literature  on  which  we  could  so  readily  stake  the 
lame  of  the  old  unpolluted  English  language;  no  book  which  shows  so  well 
TOW  rich  that  language  is  in  its  own  proper  wealth,  and  how  little  it  has 

»een  improved  byY,H  that  it  has  borrowed We  are  not  afraid  to 

ay  that,  though  there  were  many  clever  men  in  England  during  the  latter 
uilf  of  the  seventeenth  century,  there  were  only  two  great  creative  minds. 
)ne  of  these  minds  produced  the  Paradise  Lost,  the  other,  the  Pilgrim's 
^regress."— Lord  Macaulay. 


12        PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


JANE  R.  SOMMERS. 

HEAVENWARD  LED;  or,  The  Two  Bequests.  12mo,  paper,  $1.21 
Cloth  extra,  $1.75. 

"  It  is  really  an  excellent  work."— Germantown  Telegraph. 

"  This  story  is  one  of  good  society,  is  graphically  told,  and  a  sound  mori 
is  inculcated."— Rutland  Herald. 

"  Artless  in  style  and  simple  in  plot,  it  is  a  pure  and  beautiful  story,  an 
richly  merits  a  place  in  every  Sunday-school  library  in  the  country."— 'Tolec 
Commercial. 

"After  a  careful  perusal  we  strongly  recommend  the  work  as  one  worth 
of  a  place  on  the  centre-table  of  every  Christian  family  in  the  land.  Th 
story  is  well  written,  couched  in  beautiful  language,  and  shows  how  muc 
good  may  be  done  by  those  who  take  an  interest  in  religious  matters."— J3w 
nerofthe  Church,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

LOUIS  ENAULT. 

THE  PUPIL  OF  THE  LEGION  OF  HONOR,  Translated  froi 
the  French  by  Mrs.  Charles  Pendleton  Tutt.  8vo,  paper,  $1.01 
cloth,  $1.50. 

"  This  is  a  translation  from  the  French  of  a  very  fresh,  quietly  written,  at 
interesting  story,  as  unlike  the  average  modern  French  novel  as  any  thii 
can  well  be.  There  is  perhaps  somewhat  more  sentiment  than  America] 
will  care  for,  but  the  skill  with  which  the  story  is  told  will  more  than  atoi 
for  that."— San  Francisco  Daily  Record. 

"A  very  clear  and  natural,  though  rather  un-Gallican  story.  A  nov 
without  a  hero,  unless  M.  De  Verteins,  who  puts  in  a  tardy  appearance 
time  to  marry  Jeanne  Derville,  say  at  page  one  hundred  and  fifty,  or  ther 
abouts,  it  is  a  remarkably  fresh,  vivid  story,  nevertheless— the  more  vivi 
perhaps,  from  the  fact  that,  with  the  exception  of  Miss  Derville  herse 
who  is  a  sort  of  female  John  Halifax,  it  is  not  at  all  overwrought,  and  b; 
none  of  the  spectacularity  so  common  in  modern  Gallic  romance.  Bi 
graphical  in  tone,  and  written  in  the  manner  of  'John  Halifax,'  it  detai 
the  struggles  of  a  young  girl,  Miss  Derville,  with  exceeding  minuteness,  ai 
considerable  subjective  power.  The  translation  is  well  executed."— Hoi. 
Journal,  New  York. 

OLIVER  GOLDSMITH. 

THE  DESERTED  VILLAGE.  A  Poem.  Exquisitely  illustrate 
with  thirty  designs  by  George  Thomas  and  Birket  Foste 
Elegantly  printed  in  square  IGmo,  011  the  finest  calendere 
tper.  Cloth,  gilt,  extra,  $1.50;  morocco,  antique,  gilt  edge 


pa 

$^, 


"  There  is  no  poem  *n  the  English  language  more  universally  populi 
than  the  Deserted  Village.  Its  best  passages  arc  learned  in  youth,  ar 
never  quit  the  memory."—  Chambers's  Encyclopedia  of  JSnylish  Literature. 

"'The  Deserted  Village'  has  an  endearing  locality,  and  introduces  us  ; 
beings  with  whom  the  imagination  contracts  an  intimate  friendship.  Fictic 
in  poetry  is  not  the  reverse  of  truth,  but  her  soit  and  enchanted  rcsemblanci 
and  this  ideal  beauty  of  nature  has  been  seldom  united  with  so  much  sobi 
fidelity,  as  in  the  groups  and  scenery  of  the  '  Deserted  Village.'  "—Thorn 
Campbell. 

GEORGE  CRUIKSHANK. 

THE   LOVING  BALLAD  OF  LORD  BATEMAN.    Humorousl 

illustrated  by  George  Cruikshank.    Sq.  16mo,  boards,  25  cents 

YE  BOOK  OF  SENSE.  A  new  comic  book.  A  companion  to  Boo 
of  Nonsense.  With  thirty-two  illustrations.  Oblong  8v< 
boards,  50  cents  ;  cloth,  with  plates  colored,  gilt,  §1.00. 


PORTER  &  COATES*  PUBLICATIONS.        13 

CHARLES  KNIGHT. 

HALF  HOURS   IVI  ra  THE  BEST  AUTHORS.    With  Short  Bio 
graphical  aiui  Critical  Notices.   Elegantly  printed  on  the  iiiiest 
paper,    witti  fine  steel  portraits.    6  vols.,  crown  8vo.  cloth,  bev. 
boards,  gilt  tops,  $9.00;  half  calf,  gilt,  $18.00;  half  morocco  giit 
tops,  $18,00;  or  bound  in  3  vols.,  thick  crown  8vo,  tine  English 
cloth,  bev.  boards,  gilt  tops,  per  set,  $7.50;  half  calf,  gilt,  $12.00. 
Selecting  some  choice  passage  of  the  best  standard  authors,  of  sufficient 
length  to  occupy  half  an  hour  in  its  perusal,  there  is  here  food  for  thouj'ht 
for  every  day  in  tie  year;  so  thatif  the  purchaser  will  devote  but  one  half- 
hour  ouch  day  to  its  appropriate  selection,  he  will  read  through  these  six 
;.volumes  in  one  :/ear,  and  in  such  a  leisurely  manner  that  the  noblest 
thoughts  of  many  of  the  greatest  minds  will  be  tirmly  implanted  in  his  mind 
forever.    For  every  Sunday  there  is  a  suitable  selection  from  some  of  the 
most  eminent  wriiers  in  sacred  literature.  We  venture  to  say,  if  the  editor's 
Idea  is  carried  out,  the  reader  will  possess  more  information  and  a  better 
knowledge  of  the  English  classics  at  the  end  of  the  year  than  he  would  by 
five  years  of  desultory  reading.    The  variety  of  reading  is  so  great  that  no 
one  will  ever  tire  of  these  volumes.    It  is  a  library  iu  itself. 

MISS  JANE  PORTER. 

The  two  following  are  new  stereotype  editions,  in  large,  clear  type,  with 
initial  letters,  head  and  tail  pieces,  &c.  The  illustrations  were  designed 
expressly  for  this  edition,  and  engraved  in  the  highest  style  of  art. 

THE  SCOTTISH  CHIEFS.  Illustrated  by  F.  O.  C.  Barley.  Crown 
8vo,748pp.  Fine  English  cloth,  gilt.  Price,  $1.50;  half  calf, 
gilt,  $3.50. 

"Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  a  conversation  with  King  George  IV,  in  the  library 
at  Carlton  IIou.se,  admitted  that  'The  Scottish  Chiefs'  suggested  his 
•  Waverly  Novels.'  "—Allibone's  dictionary  of  Authors. 

"This  is  a  new  and  by  1'ar  the  best  edition  of  a  national  romance  which 
has  been  as  much  read  and  admired  as  almost  any  of  Scott  s  or  Dickens' 
:Hovels.  It  is  low-priced,  well  printed,  and  handsomely  bound.  Thousands 
of  readers  will  be  glad  to  go  over  this  stirring  tale  once  more."— Philadel 
phia  Press. 

REGINA  MARIA  ROCHE. 

THE  CHILDREN  OF  THE  ABBEY.   Illustrated  by  F.  O.  C.  BAR- 
LEY.    Uniform  with  "The  Scottish  Chiefs."    Crown  8vo,  G4G  pp. 
Fine  English  cloth,  gilt.    Price,  $1.50;  half  calf,  gilt,  $3.50. 
"This  classic  is  more  neatly  published  In  the  new  edition  than  we  have 
ever  seen  it.    It  was  long  a  standard,  and  had  more  favor  than  'Thaddeus 
of  Warsaw,'  and  it  deserved  better.    It  takes  a  new  lease  of  existence  now, 
and  we  almost  envy  those  who  read  it  for  the  first  time."— North  American, 
Philadelphia. 

ROBERT  McCLURE,  M.D.,  V.S. 

THE  AMERICAN  GENTLEMAN'S  STABLE  GUIBE.     Contain 
ing  a  Familiar  Description  of  the  American  Stable ;  the  most 
approved  Method  of  Feeding,  Grooming,  and  General  Manage 
ment  of  Horses;    together  with  Directions   for   the  Care  of 
Carriages,  Harness,  &c.    Expressly  adapted  for  the  owners  of 
equipages  and  line  horses.    Cloth  extra,  illustrated.    $1.50. 
A  handy  manual,  giving  to  the  owner  of  a  horse  just  the  information  of 
a  practical  nature  that  he  often  feels  the  need  of,  and  by  an  author  who 
thoroughly  understands  what  he  is  writing  about,  and  what  is  needed  by 
every  gentlema  i. 

"Such  a  treat!  ;e  has  been  needed  for  years,  and  we  think  this  volume  will 
pply  the  want.  The  illustrations  are  very  good  and  timely."— Pittsburgh 
"  Gazette, 


14         POUTER  &  COATES*  rUKLTCATIOXS. 

JOHN  J.  THOMAS. 

THE  AMERICAN  FRUIT  CULTURIST.  Containing  Practical 
Directions  lor  the  Propagation  and  Culture  of  Fruit  Trees  in 
the  Nursery,  Orchard,  and  Garden.  With  Descriptions  of  the 
Principal  American  and  Foreign  Varieties  cultivated  in  the 
United  States.  Second  edition.  Illustrated  with  4 SO  accurate 
figures.  Crown  8vo.  Cloth  extra,  bev.  bds.,  gilt  back.  $3.00. 
We  have  read  hundreds  of  criticisms  on  this  book,  and  they  unanimously 

vronounce  itthe  most  tfwrough,  practical,  and  coJNprc/imsf'wwork  published. 

The  engravings  are  not  copies  of  old  cuts  from  other  books,  but  are  mainly 

original  with  the  author. 

J.  H.  WALSH,  F.R.C.S.  ("Stonehenge.") 

THE  HORSE  IN  THE  STABLE  AND  THE  FIELD;  his  Manage 
ment  in  Health  and  Disease.  From  the  last  London  edition, 
with  copious  Notes  and  Additions,  by  ROBEKT  MCCLURE,  M.D.. 
V.S.,  author  of  "Diseases  in  the  American  Stable,  Field,  and 
Farm-yard,"  with  an  Essay  on  the  American  Trotting  Horse, 
and  suggestions  on  the  Breeding  and  Training  of  Trotters,  by 
ELLWOOD  HAIIVEY,  M.D.  With  80  engravings,  and  full-page 
engravings  from  photographs  from  life.  Crown  8vo.  Cloth, 
extra,  bev.  bds.  $2.50. 

"This  Americanizing  of 'Stonehenge'  gives  us  the  best  piece  of  Horse 
Literature  of  the  season.  Old  horsemen  need  not  be  told  who  '  Stonehenge' 
is  in  the  British  Books,  or  that  he  is  the  highest  authority  in  turf  and  veteri 
nary  affairs.  Add  to  these  the  labors  of  such  American  writers  as  Dr. 
McClure  and  Dr.  Harvey,  with  new  portraits  of  some  of  our  most  popular 
living  horses,  and  we  have  a  book  that  no  American  horseman  can  afford 
to  be  without."— Ohio  Farmer,  Cleveland,  April  24, 1809. 

"  It  sustains  its  claim  to  be  the  only  work  which  has  brought  together  in  a 
single  volume,  and  in  clear,  concise,  and  comprehensive  language,  adequate 
information  on  the  various  subjects  of  which  it  treats."— Harper's  Magazine, 
July,  18G9. 

THADDEUS  MORRIS. 

AMERICAN  FISH  CULTURE.  Giving  all  the  details  of  Artificial 
Breeding  and  Rearing  of  Trout,  Salmon,  Shad,  and  other 
Fishes.  12mo,  illustrated.  $1.75. 

"'Norris's  American  Fish  Culture'  published  in  this  city  by  Porter  & 
Coates,  is  passing  around  the  world  as  a  standard,  Mr.  Norris's  authority 
will  be  quoted  beside  the  tributaries  of  the  Ganges,  as  already  by  those  of 
the  Hudson,  the  number,  and  the  Thames.  The  English  publishers  of  the 
book  are  Sampson  Low,  Son  tfe  Co. ;  and  a  late  number  of  the  Athenazum, 
after  an  attentive  review  of  Mr.  Norris's  methods,  concludes  thus:  'Mr. 
Norris  has  rendered  good  service  to  the  important  subject  offish-culture  by 
the  present  publication;  and,  although  his  book  goes  over  ground  (or  water 
rather)  occupied  to  a  great  extent  by  English  writers  on  fish  culture,  it  con 
tains  several  particulars  respecting  this  art  as  practised  in  the  United 
States,  which  are  valuable,  and  may  be  turned  to  profitable  account  by  our 
pisciculturists.'  "—Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 

THE  AMERICAN  ANGLER'S  BOOK.     Embracing  the  Natural 
History  of  Sporting  Fish?  and  the  Art  of  Taking  Them.    "Vy'ith 
Instructions  in  Fly  Fishing,  Fly  Making,  and  Rod  Making; 
and  Directions  for  Fish  Breeding.    To  which  is  added  Dies  Pis 
catorial;  describing  noted  fishing  places,  and  the  pleasure  of 
solitary  fly  fishing.    New  edition,  with  a  supplement,  contain 
ing  a  Description  of  Salmon  Rivers,  Inland  Trout  Fishing,  &c. 
Illustrated  with  eighty  engravings.    8vo,  cloth  extra.    $5.50. 
"Mr.  Norris  has  produced  the  best  book  on  Angling  that  has  been  pub 
lished  incur  time.    If  other  authors  would  follow  Mr.  Norris's  example, 
and  not  write  upon  a  subject  until  they  had  practically  mastered  it,  we 
should  have  fewer  and  better  works.  His  volume  will  live.  It  is  thoroughly 
instructive,  good-tempered,  and  genial."— Philadelphia  l^ress. 


PUBLICATIONS.  15 


HIRAM  WOODRUFF. 

HIRAM  WOODRUFF  ON  THE  TROTTING-HORSE  OF  AME 
RICA:  How  TO  TRAIN  AND  DRIVE  HIM.  With  Reminiscences 
of  the  Trotting-Turf.  The  Results  of  the  Author's  Forty  Years' 
Experience  and  Unequalled  Skill  in  Training  and  Driving,  to 
gether  with  a  Store  of  interesting  Matter  concerning  Celebrated 
American  Horses.  Edited  by  CHARLES  J.  FOSTER,  of  "  Wilkes's 
Spirit  of  the  Times."  New  edition,  with  Supplement,  bring 
ing  it  down  to  1873.  Illustrated  with  Steel-plate  portrait  of 
HIRAM  WOODRUFF,  and  full  page  engravings  from  Photographs 
from  Life,  and  Sketches  of  "Lady  Thorne,"  "Goldsmith  Maid," 
"  Mac,"  "  Flora  Temple,"  &c.,  &c.  12mo,  cloth,  extra,  $2.25 ;  half 
calf,  gilt,  $4.00. 

"  The  estimation  in  which  we  hold  it  Is  well  known  to  our  readers.  We  be 
lieve  it  to  be  the  most  practical  and  instructive  book  that  ever  was  published  con 
cerning  the  trotting  horse;  and  those  who  own  or  take  care  of  horses  of  other 
descriptions  may  buy  and  read  it  with  a  great  deal  of  profit."—  Wilkes's  Spirit 
Of  the  Times. 

"  Hiram  Woodruff  was  the  great  trainer  of  his  day:  but,  by  his  unsullied  in 
tegrity  and  unequalled  capacity,  he  rose  above  his  profession.  No  man 
could  ever  say  of  him  that  he  had  his  price.  Indeed,  it  is  the  universal  tes 
timony  of  all  who  knew  him,— friends  and  foes,— that  his  integrity  was  ab 
solutely  unassailable.  It  is  a  book  for  which  every  man  who  owns  a  horse 
ought  to  subscribe.  The  information  which  it  contains  is  worth  ten  times  its  cost." 
—Mr.  Banner's  New  York  Ledger. 

"  This  is  a  masterly  treatise  by  the  master  of  his  profession,— the  ripened  pro 
duct  of  forty  years'  experience  in  handling,  training,  riding,  and  driving  the 
trotting  horse.  There  is  no  book  like  it  in  any  language  on  the  subject  of 
Which  it  treats.  It  is  accepted  as  authority  by  the  ownersof  racing  trotters, 
and  of  fasc  roadsters.  Its  publication  has  been  hailed  by  gentlemen  as  criti 
cally  appreciative  as  Bobert  Bonner,  and  by  trainers  and  drivers  as  disting 
uished  as  Sam  Hoagland,  Dan  Mace,  and  Dan  Pilfer.  The  book  is  unques 
tionably  one  of  great  value.  For  in  America  and  England  the  development 
of  the  horse  has  long  been  considered  second  only  in  importance  to  the  de 
velopment  of  man.  This  work  contains  the  results  of  forty  years'  uninter 
rupted  labor  in  bringing  the  trotter  up  to  the  highest  speed  and  greatest 
endurance  of  which  he  is  capable.  Before  we  read  it  we  had  seen  with  curi 
ous  surprise  very  hearty  commendation  of  it  and  eulogy  of  its  author  in  the 
leading  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  and  Methodist  journals.  No  wonder,  for 
Hiram  Woodruff's  system  is  based  on  the  law  of  love."— New  York  Tribune. 
"  We  have  a  decided  distaste  for  everything  connected  with  horse-racing, 
and  when  the  "Trotting  Horse  of  America"  was  put  into  our  hands  the 
book  dropped  of  its  own  weight  on  to  the  table.  Ashamed  of  this  prejudice, 
we  took  it  up,  and  soon  found  ourselves  reading  at  full  pace  about  the  way 
colts  should  be  raised,  and  horses  trained,  and  racers  cared  for,  and  the  breed 
Improved In  reading  the  book  we  were  struck  with  the  analogy  be 
tween  the  scientific  treatment  of  the  horse  and  the  best  treatment  of  the 

human  being What  a  pity  parents  and  teachers  would  not  learn  wis- 

4om  from  the  horse-trainer !"—  The  (.2V.  Y.)  Liberal  Christian  (  Unitarian). 

"One  may  read  and  study  this  book  with  profit,  for  it  was  written  by  a  man 
who  loved  the  horse,  knew  his  peculiarities,  and  from  the  experience  of 
years  utters  words  of  wisdom  as  to  the  best  way  of  training  and  driving  the 
noblest  animal  ever  given  to  man  for  service.  The  advice,  the  suggestions,  the 
rules  given  in  the  book  are  invaluable.  If  we  owned  a  "stable,"  we  would 
make  our  grooms  study  it;  if  we  were  a  Vermont  farmer,  each  son  should 
have  a  copy,  for,  while  it  is  specially  devoted  to  trotting  horses,  the  work 
contains  valuable  in  formation  for  every  man  who  owns  or  drives  a  horse."— 
Boston  Watchman  and  Reflector,  (Baptist). 

"The  rec9rd  of  his  experience  and  suggestions  constitutes,  therefore,  a  valu 
able  accession  to  our  knowledge,  and  will  prove  to  be  of  standard  authority 
among  the  most  skilful.  The  graphic  style  of  his  descriptions,  the  vivid  pic 
tures  lie  draws  of  the  breeding  and  education  of  his  favorites,  and  the  remi 
niscences  he  recalls  of  incidents  on  the  turf,  form  a  work  of  great  merit. . . . 
Those  who  are  desirous  to  form  an  accurate  idea  of  the  characteristics  of  the 
trotting  horse,  for  their  benefit  as  riders  or  drivers,  cannot  find  any  other 
work  in  our  language  so  replete  withusffulinformation,  interesting  hints,  and 
readable  anecdotes.  Hiram  Woodruff  is  now  dead,  and  it  will  be  many  a 
year  before  we  shall  look  upon  nis  equal  in  his  line  of  business."— The 
ffation. 


16        PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 

THE  INSTRUCTIVE  GAME  OF  MYTHOLOGY,  with  descriptii 
and  biographical  sketches  on  every  card.    Price,  50  centsT 

THE  INSTRUCTIVE  GAME  OP  POPULAR  QUOTATIONS  wit 
Descriptive,  biographical  and  character  sketches  on  every  can 

,uniforr»  with  "  The  Instructive  Games  of  Authors  ar 
ear.    They  are  printed  on  the  finest  card-boar. 

either  a  handsome  cloto  case  or 


J.  R.  SYPHER. 

THE  YOUNG  AMERICA  SPEAKER.  Designed  for  the  use  of  tl 
younger  classes  in  Schools,  Lyceums,  Temperance  Societic 
&c.  Containing  selections  in  Prose,  Poetry  and  Dialogue  •  : 
style,  sentiment  and  expression,  suited  to  the  minds  ar 
spirits  of  the  youth  of  the  present  day.  ICmo,  half  bound 
cents. 

"  This  little  volume  contains  unexceptional  selections  of  Prose,  Poetry  ai 
Dialogue.  The  selections  evidence  extensive  reading,  good  taste  and  sor 
experience  with  the  predelictions  of  young  declaimers."—  New  Orlea 
Picayune. 

"  An  important  and  interesting  addition  to  our  school  literature.  T 
pieces  presented  in  the  work  are  well  selected,  and  they  have  this  adva 
tage—  each  piece  is  short,  and  will  not^oo  seriously  strain  the  faculties 
any  student.  Being  short,  a  greater  variety  is  presented  than  in  me 
speakers  now  before  the  public."—  Banner  of  the  Church,  Atlanta,  6a. 

THE  AMERICAN  POPULAR  SPEAKER.  Designed  for  the  U! 
of  Schools,  Lyceums,  Temperance  Societies,  &c.,  <fec.  12mi 
half  bound,  384  pp.,  $1.50. 

"  Admirably  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  declamation.  "We  recognize  mar 
of  the  old  standard  pieces  which  boys  have  declaimed  since  our  reinei 
brance,  with  many  also  which  we  have  not  found  in  other  similar  compil 
tions.  The  book  is  not  encumbered  with  a  multiplicity  of  rules  and  dir« 
tions  which  serve  to  confuse  and  hinder  the  students  rather  than  to  lie 
them;  but  a  few,  simple,  practical  directions  are  given  which  are  admirab; 
and  all  that  are  needed.  We  commend  the  volume  to  the  attention 
teachers  and  students  as  one  of  high  merit."—  Portland  Evening  Aryus. 

"  Excellent  selections  of  prose  and  poetry  and  dialogues.  The  subjeo 
embrace  every  conceivable  want  for  school  declamations  with  conci 
practical  instructions  for  the  speaker."—  New  Bedford  Evening  Standard. 

MME.  MARIE  SOPHIE  SCHWARTZ. 

THE  SON  OF  THE   ORGAN  GRINDER.    A  Novel.    Translate 

from  the  Swedish  by  SELMA  BORG  and  MARIE  A.  BROW: 

"With  a  portrait  and  sketch  of  Mme.  Schwartz..  1  vol.,  12m 

Cloth,  $1.50;  paper,  81. 

This  volume  recommences  the  publication  of  the  works  of  this  brillia; 

and  popular  writer,  and  is  considered  equal  .to  the  best  of  her  works  y 

translated. 

MME.  EMILE  DE  GIRARDIN,  MM.  TKEOPHILE  GAUTIEF 
JULES  SANDEAU,  and  MERY. 

THE  CROSS  OF  BERNY;  OR,  IRENE'S  LOVKRS.    A  Novel.  Tran 
lated  from  the  French.    1  vol.,  12mo.    Cloth,  $1.50;  paper,  $1. 
"The    Cross  of  Berny"  is  a  brilliant  literary  tourney  of  four  famq 
writers,  and  is  pronounced  by  a  former  literary  editor  of  The.  Clirixtian  Unit 
to  be  the  most  powerful,  witty,  and  interesting  foreign  novel  translated  sur 
"  On  the  Heights." 


PORTER   &   G'OATES'   PUBLICATIONS.  17 


HENRY  T.  COATES. 

THE  COMPREHENSIVE  SPEAKER.  Designed  for  the  use  of 
Schools,  Academies,  Lyceums,  <fec.  Carefully  selected  from  the 
best  authors,  with  Notes.  Large  12mo,  672  pages,  half  bound, 
cloth  sides,  $1.75. 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  18, 1872. 

I  consider  your  "  Comprehensive  Speaker"  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable 
contributions  to  the  literary  apparatus  of  schools,  academies,  and  lyceums 
ever  published.  But  its  usefulness  is  not  limited  to  these  institutions :  it  is 
an  excellent  family-table  book,  and  should  be  in  every  private  as  well  as  in 
every  public  collection. 

In  carrying  your  readers  through  various  departments  of  literature,  from 
"gay  to  grave,  from  lively  to  severe,"  you  have  evinced  much  taste  and 
judgment,  as  well  as  great  industry.  That  the  sale  of  so  good  a  book  should 
be  large  I  should  be  sorry  to  doubt. 

S.  AUSTIN  ALLIBONE, 
Author  of  Allibone's  Dictionary  of  Authors. 

'  It  contains  a  judicious  selection  of  pieces  from  the  best  authors,  omitting 
all  of  doubtful  morality,  of  a  sectarian  or  political  character,  and  of  trans- 
lent  literary  value.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  selection  of  extracts 
to  give  the  genuine  text  of  the  author  without  the  errors  in  quotation 
and  punctuation  which  are  such  a  frequent  blemish  in  this  class  of  school 
D9oks.  A  large  proportion  of  the  contents  are  from  American  authors,  fur 
nishing  the  materials  for  a  comparative  survey  of  our  native  literature."— 
The  New  York  Daily  Tribune. 

"  It  is  an  excellent  selection  of  pieces  for  declamation  and  reading."— The 
Nation,  New  York. 

"  On  careful  examination,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  characterize  it  as  the  BEST 
compilation  of  its  class  that  has  ever  come  under  our  notice.  The  merits  of 
this  large  and  varied  collection  are  numerous.  Hackneyed  pieces  have 
been  carefully  excluded,  and  political  and  sectarian  pieces  are  not  to  be 
jfound  in  its  pages.  There  are,  of  course,  some  humorous  passages,  in  prose 
jand  verse,  but  none  that  are  immoral  or  vulgar."— The  Philadelphia  Press. 

"  We  cannot  too  highly  commend  the  felicitous  manner  in  which  the  com 
piler  has  accomplished  his  work.  It  is  valuable  as  a  volume  for  general 
reading  as  well.  It  seems  to  us  wholly  good,  with  nothing  to  add  or  change 
—a  difficult  achievement  in  view  of  the  number  of  "Speakers"  already  In 
existence."— Ohio  State  Journal,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

I    "The  instructions  are  simple  and  practical,  most  admirably  adapted  to 
[the  student'-s  use.    Mr.  Coates  has  shown  in  the  preparation  of  this  work  a 
jwide  range  of  scholarship  and  rare  good  taste.    The  book  is  worthy  of  a 
'grand  success."— Watchman  and  Reflector ,  Boston,  (Baptist). 
!    "  We  np ed  only  say  of  this  book  that  it  is  a  remarkably  rich  collection  of 


irpts  from  the  very  best  specimens  of  English  prose  and  poetry,  selected 
ilwith  singularly  good  taste  and  judgment.  Its  influence,  an  a  fa 
[book,  cannot  be  but  very  elevating."— The  Advance,  Chicago. 


THE  LATEST  AND  MOST  IMPROVED  GAMES. 

(THE  INSTRUCTIVE  GAME  OF  AUTHORS.  Containing  on  each 
card  the  leading  characters  in  the  books  named,  the  history 
of  the  author  or  the  leading  events  mentioned  In  the  books 
named,  thus  familiarizing  one  with  each  writer,  by  attracting 
the  attention  to  some  special  persons  or  prominent  incidents. 
Also,  containing  short  biographical  notices,  in  handsome 
cloth  case.  50  cents. 

ITHE  INSTRUCTIVE  GAME  OF  POETS,  uniform  with  the  above 

in  style.    Cloth  case.    50  cents. 


IS         PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 

JAMES  HOGG,  the  Ettrick  Shepherd. 

THE  MOUNTAIN  BAUD  AND  FOREST  MINSTREL.   Lcgendj 

Songs  and  Ballads.    With  two  line  engravings  on  steel.    32a 

clotli,  GO  cents ;  illuminated  side,  90  cents  ;  Turkey  mor.,  $!.{ 

"  He  is  a  poet,  in  the  highest  acceptation  of  the  name."— Lord  Jeffrey. 

PERCY  BYSSHE  SHELLEY. 

POETICAL  WORKS.  With  a  fine  engraving  on  steel.  32r 
cloth,  GO  cents ;  illuminated  side,  90  cents ;  Turkey  mor.,  $1.C 

ROBERT  BLOOMFIELD. 

THE  FARMER'S  BOY,  and  other  Poems.  Illustrated  with  a  fl 
engraving  on  steel.  32mo,  cloth,  GO  cents;  illuminated  sii 
90  cents ;  Turkey  morocco,  $1.50. 

"  Pew  compositions  in  the  English  language  have  been  so  generally 
mired  as  the  Farmer's  Boy.  Those  who  agreed  in  but  little  else  in  literi 
matters,  were  unanimous  in  the  commendation  of  the  poetical  powers  < 
played  by  the  peasant  and  journeyman  mechanic."—  Mlibone's  IHctitm 
Authors. 

ROBERT  BURNS. 

POETICAL  WORKS.  With  a  fine  engraving  on  steel.  32n 
cloth,  60  cents  ;  illuminated  side,  90  cents;  Turkey  mor.,  $1.5 

"  Burns  is  by  far  the  greatest  poet  that  ever  sprang  from  the  bosom  of  1 
people,  and  lived  and  died  in  an  humble  condition.  Indeed,  no  country 
the  world  but  Scotland  could  have  produced  such  a  man  ;  and  he  will 
forever  regarded  as  the  glorious  representative  of  the  genius  of  his  count 
He  was  born  a  poet  if  ever  man  was."— Prof.  Wilson's  Essay  on  Burns. 

WILLIAM  DODD,  LL.D. 

THE  BEAUTIES  OF  SHAKSPEARE.  From  the  last  Lond 
edition,  with  large  additions,  and  the  author's  latest  corr< 
tions.  With  two  fine  engravings  on  steel.  Fine  edition,  - 
toned  paper,  with  carmine  border.  Square  24mo.  Cloth,  g 
edges,  $1.50 ;  Turkey,  $3.00;  32mo,  cloth,  60  cts. ;  illuminated  si( 
90  cts. ;  Turkey  morocco,  $1.50. 
This  republication  of  a  book  so  universally  and  deservedly  popular 

Dodd's  Beauties,  makes  it  peculiarly  valuable  as  a  gift  book. 

THOMAS  HOOD. 

POETICAL   WORKS.     With  a  fine  engraving   on  steel.    32m 

Cloth,  60  cts.;  illuminated  side,  90  cts.;  Turkey  morocco,  $1.50 

"Hood's  verse,  whether  serious  or  comic,— whether  serene,  like  a  clot 

less  autumn  evening,  or  sparkling  with  puns  like  a  frosty  January  midnig 

with  stars,— was  ever  pregnant  with  materials  for  thought Li 

every  author  distinguished  for  true  comic  humor,  there  was  a  deep  vein 
melancholy  pathos  running  through  his  mirth ;  and  even  when  his  si 
shone  brightly,  its  light  seemed  often  reflected  as  if  only  over  the  rim  o: 
cloud.  -2).  M.  Moir. 

THOMAS  MOORE. 

THE  MORAL  AND  BEAUTIFUL  FROM  THE  POEMS  0 

Edited  by  REV.  WALTEII  COLTOX,  author  of  "  Deck  and  Port 

&c.,  &c.    With  a  fine  engraving  on  steel.    32mo.    Cloth,  60  cti 

illuminated  sides,  90  cts.;  Turkey  morocco,  $1.50. 

"The  combinations  of  his  wit  are  wonderful.    Quick,  subtle,  and  varit 

ever  suggesting  new  thoughts  or  images,  or  unexpected  turns  of  expressl< 

— now  drawing  resources  from  classical  literature  or  of  the  ancient  father.' 

now  diving  into  the  human  heart,  and  nowskimming  the  fields  of  fancy — tl 

wit  or  imagination  of  Mooro  (lor  they  are  compounded  together),  is  a  tr 

Ariel, '  a  creature  of  the  elements,'  that  is  ever  buoyant  and  full  of  life  ai 

spirit."— Chamber  s's  Hag.  Lit, 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS.        19 


ALFRED   HOWARD. 

TIE  BEAUTIES  OF  CHESTERFIELD.  Consisting  of  Selections 
from  the  Works  of  Lord  Chesterfield.  18nio,  illustrated.  Cloth 
extra,  black  and  gold,  $1.25. 

CHARLES  CALEB  COLTON. 

,ACON ;  or,  Many  Things  in  Few  Words  Addressed  to  Those  Who 
Think.  Revised  edition,  with  a  life  of  the  author.  Globe  edition, 
16ino,  cloth  extra,  $1.25. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  excellent  collections  of  apothegms  in  the  lan- 

raage."— AUibone's  Dictionary  of  Authors. 

COL.  GEORGE  CHESNEY. 

!:HE  BATTLE  OF  DORKING,  AND  GERMAN  CONQUEST  OF 

ENGLAND  IN  1875;  or,  Reminiscences  of  a  Volunteer.    By  an 
Eyewitness,  in  1925.    Reprinted  from  Blackwood's  Magazine. 
|     12mo,  64  pp.,  30  cents ;  cloth,  50  cents. 

Ijj  "Everybody  is  talking  about  it,  and  everybody  is  quite  right.  We  do  not 
ctnow  that  we  ever  saw  anything  better  in  any  magazine,  or  any  better  ex- 
Pnple  of  the  wai&emblance  which  a  skilled  artist  can  produce  by  a  variety 
i:  f  minute  touches.  *****  The  writer  of  this  paper,  living  about 
•1925,  gives  his  son  an  account  of  his  adventures  as  a  Volunteer  during  the 
invasion  of  England  fifty  years  before,  and  so  powerful  is  the  narrative,  so 
intensely  real  the  impression  it  produces,  that  the  coolest  disbeliever  in 
ianies  cannot  read  it  without  a  flush  of  annoyance,  or  close  it  without  the 
jjpought  that  after  all,  as  the  world  now  stands,  some  such  day  of  humilia- 
lon  For  England  is  at  least  possible.  The  suggested  condition  precedent  of 
'Evasion,  the  destruction  ef  the  fleet  by  torpedoes  attached  by  a  new  inven- 
i|pn  to  our  ships,  has  attracted  many  minds  ;  and  with  the  destruction  of  the 
jegulars,  the  helplessness  of  the  brave  but  half  organized  Volunteers,  and 
pe  absence  of  arrangement,  make  up  a  picture  which,  fanciful  as  it  is,  we 
feem,  as  we  read  it,  almost  to  have  seen.  It  describes  so  exactly  what  we 
iffll  feel  that,  under  the  circumstances,  Englishmen,  if  refused  time  to  organ 
ic,  would  probably  do."— Spectator  (London.) 

|"  The  extraordinary  force  and  naturalness  of  the  picture  of  the  calamity 
feelf,  its  consistency  throughout,  from  the  bits  of  the  last  Times  leader,  read 
Jy  the  unhappy  volunteer  in  the  City,  to  the  description  of  the  conduct  of 
pe  Germans  in  the  fatal  Battle  of  Dorking,  and  in  the  occupation  of  the 
English  homes  which  follows,  seem  to  us  as  natural  in  its  touches  as  can 
fell  be  conceived."— Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

3 "The  Britons  are  stirred  up  by  it  as  they  have  been  by  no  one  magazine 
IrMcle  of  this  generation.  The  '  Fight  at  Dame  Europa's  School '  did  not 
•Jit  the  bull's  eye  of  English  feeling  more  squarely  than  this  clever  shot  from. 

pd  Maga The  verisimilitude  is  wonderful.    We  have  rend  nothing 

~  e  it  outside  of  Bobinson  Crusoe."— Journal  of  Commerce  (New  York.) 


SECOND  ARMADA.    A  Chapter  of  Future  History.    Being 
a  Reply  to  the  AbovB.    12mo,  paper  covers.    10  cents. 

The  story  of  the  German  Conquest  has  produced  a  sensation  both  in 
Lmerica  and  England,  having  run  into  eight  editions  in  this  country  in  less 
ftanone  month.  The  "London  Times"  of  June  22d  contained  their  version 
i  the  famous  battle,  with  a  totally  different  result  however,  and  also  had  a 
bng  editorial  on  the  two  versions.  This  is  given  also  with  the  reply. 
I"  An  intensely  interesting  little  book,  and  must  be  read  to  be  appreci- 
L~J ,"— Providence  Gazette. 


20        PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS 

OLIVER  BUNCE. 

ROMANCE  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  Being  true  Stories  of  th4 
Thrilling  Adventures,  Romantic  Incidents,  Halr-brecuH 
Escapes  and  Heroic  Exploits  of  the  Days  of  76.  Laid  paper 
with  six  illustrations.  16mo,  cloth,  extra,  $1.50. 

While  the  principal  events  of  the  history  of  our  glorious  Revolution  are 
known  to  every  intelligent  American,  much  remains  to  be  disclosed  of  th« 
inner  history  of  the  war,  and  the  motives  and  patriotism  of  the  r/eoDle. 
There  were  deeds  of  individual  daring,  heroism  worthy  of  the  proudest  days 
or  Greece  and  Home,  dashing  and  hazardous  enterprises,  and  hardships 
bravely  borne,  performed  by  subalterns  and  private  soldiers  in  the  grand 
army  of  heroes,  which  should  never  bo  forgotten.  To  collect  and  preserve 
the  sketches  of  these  almost  forgotten  passages  of  the  war,  as  they  originally 
appeared  in  the  newspapers  and  private  letters  of  that  stirring  period  and 
tho  stories  told  by  scarred  veterans  round  the  blazing  hearth-stone-  these 
legends  of  the  past;  has  been  the  object  of  this  work,  and  the  publishers 
are  confident  that  none  will  rise  from  its  perusal  without  acknowledging 
that  "  Truth  is  stranger  than  fiction,"  and  with  a  deeper  feeling  of  reverenoi 
for  the  heroes  of  the  days  of  '76 

"A  collection  of  anecdotes  and  traditions  relating  to  the  War  of  Inde 
pendence,  which  presents  in  a  brilliant  light  chivalrous  adventures  called 
forth  by  the  struggles  of  the  early  patriots  for  the  freedom  of  their  country. 
It  some  of  the  incidents  here  recorded  have  rather  an  apocryphal  air,  they 
yet  serve  to  illustrate  the  spirit  of  the  time,  and  present  the  truth  more 
vividly  to  the  imagination  than  the  more  formal  pages  of  history.  The 
volume  is  eminently  adapted  to  popular  reading."—  Harper's  Magazine. 

CECIL  B.  HARTLEY. 

LIFE  OF  THE  EMPRESS  JOSEPHINE,  Wife  of  Napoleon  L 
With  a  fine  Portrait  on  Steel.  IGmo.  Printed  on  line  laid  paper. 
Cloth,  extra,  $1.50. 

41  Her  career  and  her  character  were  alike  remarkable;  surrounded  by 
the  demoralizations  of  the  French  Court,  she  \yas  a  lloman  matron  iu  stern 
rectitude,  with  a  pre-eminent  fidelity  to  a  sensitive  conscience;  and  blended 
comprehensive  genius  with  a  warm  heart  and  a  noble  personal  presence. 
She  was  the  peer  of  Napoleon,  and  in  some  respects  his  superior.  Her  exe 
cutive  force  was  less,  but  her  foresight  was  greater.  It  is  to  her  that  the 
index  finger  of  history  points,  as  an  example  of  female  grandeur.  .Napoleon 
got  a  divorce  from  her  because  he  wished  his  seed  to  inherit  the  French 
Orown.  The  son  born  of  his  Hapsburg  marriage  died  crownless,  while  the 


, 

grandson  of  Josephine  now  wears  the  purple  of  France—  this  is  more  than 
poetic  justice.  *  *  *  In  the  book  before  us,  the  story  of  her  life  ig  told  in 
a  simple,  classic  style,  and  possesses  a  fascination  rarely  met  with  in  bio 


MRS.  ANNA  JAMESON. 

LIVES  OF  CELEBRATED  FEMALE  SOVEREIGNS  AND  IL 
LUSTRIOUS  WOMEN.  Edited  by  Mary  E.  Hewitt,  With 
four  portraits  on  steel.  16mo,  beautifully  printed  on  laid  paper. 
Cloth,  extra,  $1.50. 

The  celebrated  Mrs.  Jameson,  who  wields  a  powerful,  ready,  and  pleasant 
pen,  has  taken  hold  of  some  of  tho  leading  events  iu  the  brilliant  lives  of 
some  of  the  most  world-noted  women,  and  depicted  them  in  very  attractive 
colors.  It  is  a  lovely  book  for  young  ladies,  and  will  give  them  a  teste  for 
history. 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS.        21 

W.  S.  GILBERT. 

FHE  BAB  BALLADS;  or,  Much.  Sound  and  Little  Sense.  Vv7ith 
113  illustrations  by  the  author.  Square  12mo.,  cloth,  bev.  gilt 
edges,  $1.75. 

These  Ballads,  first  published  in  periodicals,  rapidly  achieved  a  whim- 
leal  popularity,  which  soon  demanded  their  publication  in  a  collected 
'orm.    Much  of  this  is  due  to  the  series  of  inexpressibly  funny  drawings 
>y  the  author,  who  is  happy  in  being  artist  enough  to  interpret  his  own 
lumor    in    these  admirable  sketches:    we   pity   the    man   who   cannot 
jpreciate  and  enjoy  them.     The   Ballads  will  rank   with   the   best  of 
?hackeray,  Bon  Gaultier,  or  Ingoldsby.    Let  every  one  who  in  these  dull 
inies  has  the  blues,  procure  a  copy  as  the  cheapest  remedy.    While  it  is  a 
learly  perfect/oe  simile  of  the  English  copy,  it  is  only  half  the  price. 
"  Everybody  likes,  occasionally,  a  little  sensible  nonsense.  '  Mother  Goose* 
I  enjoyed  in  childhood,  and  something  similar,  but  more  advanced,  is 
ceded  to  provoke  a  smile  on  a  wearied  face  in  later  years.    This  volume  of 
:omic  poems  answers  such  a  purpose ;  some  of  them  have  a  sly  moral,  while 
•others  are  simply  amusing  from  their  supreme  absurdity.    The  mirth  is 
Jaidod  by  the  author's  original  cots,  which  are  quite  in  keeping  with  the 
Ipoetry."— Advance,  Chicago,  the  Great  Keligious  Weekly. 

C.  M.  METZ. 

DRAWING-BOOK  OF  THE  HUMAN  FIGURE.  With  many  Ex 
amples  from  the  best  Studies  of  the  Old  Masters,  beautifully 
engraved  in  the  first  style  of  the  art.  Folio,  half  morocco,  an 
tique,  $7.50. 

H.  B.  STAUNTON. 

THE  AMERICAN  '  CHESS  PLAYER'S  HANDBOOK.  Teaching 
the  Rudiments  of  the  Game,  and  giving  an  analysis  of  all  the 
recognized  openings,  amplified  by  appropriate  games  actually 
played  by  Morphy,  Horwitz,  Anderssen,  Staunton,  Paulson, 
Montgomery,  Meek,  and  others.  From  the  work  of  Staunton. 
Illustrated.  16mo,  cloth,  extra,  bev.  bds.  $1.25. 
Among  the  great  wants  of  students  of  this  noble  game  of  chess  has  been 
a  handbook  which  should  occupy  a  middle  ground  between  the  large  and 
expensive  work  of  Staunton  and  the  ten  cent  guides  with  which  the  country 
is  flooded.  This  want  is  happily  supplied  by  the  present  volume.  It  is  an 
abridgment  of  Staunton's  work,  and  contains  full  accounts  and  descriptions 
of  the  common  openings  and  defences,  besides  a  large  number  ef  illustra 
tive  games  and  several  endings  and  problems.  It  is  a  book  which  will  be 
decidedly  useful  to  all  beginners  in  the  game,  and  interesting  to  those  wlio 
arc?  already  proficient  in  it."— Peoria  Transcript. 

"Will  prove  an  invaluable  guide  for  the  admirers  of  the  great  and  strate 
gic  game  of  chess.  It  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  chess-player."— 
dtalfsburg  Republican. 

"  It  is  the  best  manual  for  the  beginner  with  which  we  are  acquainted,— 
exceedingly  clear  and  intelligible."— .A'ew  Orleans  Picayune. 

SARAH  E.  SCOTT. 

KVERY-DAY  COOKERY,  FOR  EVERY  FAMILY.  Containing 
nearly  1000  Receipts  adapted  to  moderate  incomes,  and  com 
prising  the  best  and  most  economical  methods  of  roasting, 
boiling,  broiling  and  stewing  all  kinds  of  meat,  fish,  poultry, 
game  and  vegetables  j  simple  and  inexpensive  instructions 
for  making  pies,  puddings,  tarts,  and  all  other  pastry;  how  to 
pickle  and  preserve  fruits  and  vegetables;  suitable  cookery 
for  invalids  and  children;  food  in  season,  and  how  to  choose 
it;  the  best  ways  to  make  domestic  wines  and  syrups,  and 
ample  receipts  for  bread,  cake,  soups,  gravies,  sauces,  desserts, 
jellies,  brandied  fruits,  soaps,  perfumes,  &c.,  &c.,  and  full  direc 
tions  for  carving.  Illustrated.  IGrno.,  cloth.  Price,  $1,25. 


22  PORTER   &   OOATES'   PUBLICATIONS. 


OTTO   MULLER. 

CHARLOTTE  ACKERMAN.  A  Theatrical  Romance,  founded 
upon  interesting  facts  in  the  life  of  a  young  artist  of  the  last 
century.  Translated  from  the  German,  by  Mrs.  Chapman 
Coleman  and  her  Daughters,  the  translators  of  the  Mulbach 
Novels.  Paper,  $1.00;  cloth,  $1.50. 

".The  author  of  this  romance  has  acquired  a  solid  reputation  in  Ger 
many,  and  it  is  evident,  from  this  translation,  that  it  is  deserved."— San 
Francisco  Daily  Eecord. 

T.  S.  ARTHUR. 

IDLE  HANDS,  AND  OTHER  STORIES.  A  new  volume  by  this 
popular  author.  With  six  exquisite  full-page  cuts,  engraved 
by  Lauderbach.  Square  8vo.  Cloth,  full  gilt,  $2.00. 

"The  most  popular  of  all  our  American  writers  on  domestic  subjects."— 
Godey's  Lady's  Book. 

"  In  the  princely  mansions  of  the  Atlantic  merchants,  and  in  the  rude  log 
cabins  of  the  backwoodsmen,  the  name  of  Arthur  is  equally  known  and 
cherished  as  a  friend  of  virtue."— Graham's  Magazine. 

"  As  a  writer  of  short  moral  stories  and  sketches,  Mr.  Arthur  has  probably 
no  superior  iu  this  country.  There  is  no  mistaking  the  lesson  intended  to 
be  taught.  Thousands  of  young  readers  will  hail  the  advent  of  thie  book 
with  genuine  joy."— Indianapolis  Evening  News. 

"  The  name  of  T.  S.  Arthur  is  so  well  known  as  a  charming  writer  for 
Juveniles  as  well  as  for  adults,  that  to  commend  this  selection  of  beautiful 
and  instructive  stories,  so  tastefully  gotten  up  by  the  enterprising  publish 
ers,  would  be  but  to  put  pencil  and  paint  to  finished  work."— Central  Baptist, 
St.  Louis. 

"The  paper  and  printing  are  superb,  and  the  binding,  which  allows  the 
margin  to  be  wide,  is  in  the  best  style  of  green  and  gold.  It  is  a  book  for  the 
holidays."—  Worcester  (Mass.)  Daily  Spy. 


FRIENDLY  HANDS  AND  KINDLY  WORDS.  Stories  illustra 
tive  of  the  Law  of  Kindness,  the  Power  of  Perseverance,  and 
the  Advantages  of  Little  Helps.  Eight  fine  illustrations  by 
H.  K.  Browne,  John  Absolom,  and  the  brothers  Dalziel.  16mo, 
cloth,  extra,  75  cents. 

SMALL  BEGINNINGS;  OR,  THE  WAY  TO  GET  ON.  Beauti 
fully  illustrated  with  eight  fine  drawings  by  H.  K.  Browne, 
John  Absolom  and  the  brothers  Dalziel.  16mo,  cloth,  extra, 
75  cents. 

THE  ART  OF  DOING  OUR  BEST:  As  seen  In  the  Lives  and 
Stories  ofs  ome  thorough  Workers.  Eight  fine  illustrations  by 
H.  K.  Browne,  John  Absolom,  and  the  brothers  Dalziel.  IGmo, 
eloth,  extra,  75  cents. 


YE  BOOK  OF  SENSE.  A  new  oomic  book.  A  Companion  to 
Lear's  celebrated  Book  of  Nonsense.  With  thirty- two  illus 
trations,  brightly  colored,  Oblong  8vo,  boards,  $1.00;  cloth, 
extra  gilt,  81.50. 


23 


MiS3  H.  B.  McKEEVER, 


Author  of  "The  Flounced  Robe,  and  What  it  Cost,"  Edith's  Ministry," 
Woodclifle,"  "Silver  Threads,"  &c.,  &c. 

These  stories  have  the  merit  of  being  entertaining,  instructive,  and  really 
much  superior  to  the  common  run  of  Juveniles.  The  Springfield  Republican, 
which  is  competent  authority,  prmiouiices  them  the  best  and  handsomest 
Juvenile  Books  of  the  season."— Lyons  Republican. 

"  Miss  McKeever  always  writes  with  point  and  meaning,  and  in  a  manner 
to  gain  and  hold  the  attention."— /Sunday-School  Timet. 

ELEANOR'S  THREE  BIRTHDAYS.    "  Charity  seeketh  not  her 
own."    Illustrated.    IGmo.,  295  pp.,  $1.00. 

MARY   LESLIE'S   TRIALS.    "Is  not  easily  provoked."     Illus 
trated.    IGmo.,  $1.00. 

LUCY  FORRESTER'S  TRIUMPHS.    "Thinketh  no  evil,  beHcv- 
eth  all  things,  hopeth  all  things."    Illustrated.    16mo.   Price, 

R.  M.  BALLANTYNE. 

New  and  beautiful  editions  of  these  world-renowned  books,  second  only 
to  those  of  Cooper  and  Marryatt,  and  better  than  those  of  Mayne  lleid, 
In  the  pictures  presented  to  the  reader  of  wild  lii'e  among  the  Indians,  the 
hairbreadth  escapes  and  fierce  delights  of  a  hunters'  life,  and  the  perils  of 
"Life  on  the  Ocean  Wave."  Ballantyne's  name  is  well  known  to  every 
intelligent  boy  of  spirit.  Leading  the  reader  into  the  jungles  and  forests 
of  Africa,  sweeping  ®ver  the  vast  expanse  of  our  western  prairies,  "  fast  in 
the  ice"  of  the  Polar  regions,  or  coasting  the  shores  of  sunny  climes,  he 
ever  presents  new  and  enchanting  pictures  of  adventure  or  beauty  to 
enchain  the  attention),  absorb  the  interest,  excite  the  feelings,  and  always 
at  the  same  time  instructing  the  reader. 

THE  GORILLA  HUNTERS.   A  Tale  of  the  Wilds  of  Africa.   IGmo, 

illustrated,  cloth,  extra,  $1.25. 

"Thoroughly  at  home  on  subjects  of  adventure.  Like  all  his  stories  for 
boys,  thrilling  in  interest  and  abounding  in  incidents  of  every  kind."— The 
Quiver,  London. 

THE  DOQ  CRUSOE.   A  Tale  of  the  Western  Prairies.   16mo,  illus 
trated,  cloth,  extra,  $1.25. 

"This  is  another  of  Mr.  Ballantyne's  excellent  stories  for  the  young. 
They  are  all  well  written,  full  of  romantic  incidents,  and  are  of  no  doubt 
ful  moral  tendency;  on  the  contrary,  they  are  invariably  found  to  embody 
sentiments  of  true  piety,  manliness  and  virtue."— Inverness  Advertiser. 

GASCOYNE.   THE   SANDAL- WOOD   TRADER.     A  Tale  of  the 

Pacific.    16mo,  illustrated,  cloth,  extra,  $1.25. 

"'Gascoyne'  will  rivet  the  attention  of  every  one,  whether  old  or  young, 
Who  pursues  it."— Edinburgh  Courant. 

FREAKS  ON  THE  FELLS ;  or,  Three  Months'  Rustication.    And 
why  I  did  not  become  a  Sailor.    Illustrated,  IGmo,  cloth,  extra, 
$1.25. 
"Mr.  Ballantyne's  name  on  the  title-page  of  a  book,  has  for  some  years 

been  a  guaranty  to  buj-ers  that  the  volume  is  cheap  at  its  price."— London 

Athenaeum. 

THE  WILD  MAN  OF  THE  WEST.    A  Tale  of  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains.    16mo.    Illustrated,  cloth,  extra,  $1.25. 

This  is  generally  considered  the  best  of  Mr.  Ballantyne's  famous  narra 
tives  of  Indian  warfare  and  border  life.  In  this  field  he  is  second  only  to 
Cooper. 

SHIFTING  WINDS.    A  Story  of  the  Sea.   Cloth,  extra,  illustrated. 
$1.25. 


24         PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 

R.  M.  BALLANTYNE— Second  Series. 

"  Indulgent  fathers  and  good  uncles  will  look  a  long  time  before  they  wtll 
find  books  more  interesting  or  instructive  for  boys  tuan  these.  In  the  four 
volumes  the  author  introduces  his  young  readers  10  the  wonders  of  the  Arctic 
regions,  the  wild  hunting-grounds  ot'tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  the  rugged 
coast  and  midnight  sun  of  Norway,  and  the  exciting  chase  of  the  monsters 
of  the  deep  on  the  pathless  fields  of  the  oce*an.  He  is  quite  at  home  among 
the  scenes  he  describes,  and  has  the  faculty  of  taking  the  boys  along  with 
him  in  his  narrative,  and  making  them  feel  at  home  in  his  company.  His 
object  is  to  give  information  and  to  inculcate  sound  principles  of  virtue,  and 
he  mingles  en'-.ugh  of  fancy  with  the  fact  and  the  moral  lesson  to  make  both 
more  impressive  and  the  more  sure  to  be  remembered.  The  boy  who  reads 
these  volumes  at  the  time  when  his  mind  is  most  susceptible  to  the  stirring 
scenes  of  peril  and  adventure,  will  cultivate  a  taste  for  more  complete  and 
elaborate  works  of  travel  and  discovery,  in  mature  years."—  £cv.  Daniel 
March,  D.D. 

FIGHTING  THE  "WHALES ;  or,  Doings  and  Dangers  on  a  Eishing 
Cruise.  With  four  lull-page  Illustrations.  18ino.,  Illustrated, 
75  cents. 

AWAY  IN  THE  WILDERNESS;  or,  Life  Among  the  Red  In 
dians  and  Fur-Traders  of  North  America.  18mo.,  Illustrated, 
Cloth,  extra,  75  cents. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  books  this  famed  author  has  written. 
Whilst  describing  the  exciting  adventures  of  Indian  life,  he  conveys  new 
and  attractive  information  about  the  far  north  portion  of  our  continent. 

Seldom,  if  ever,  has  there  been  a  better  description  of  life  in  the  lands  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  than  is  found  in  this  little  work. 

FAST  IN  THE  ICE ;  or,  Adventures  in  the  Polar  Regions.    ISmo. 

Illustrated.    Cloth,  extra,  75  cents. 

"Is  attractive  and  useful.  There  is  no  more  practical  way  of  communi 
cating  elementary  information  than  that  which  has  been  adopted  in  this 
series.  When  we  see  contained  in  141  small  pages,  as  in  "Fast  in  the  Ice," 
such  information  as  men  of  fair  education  should  possess  about  icebergs, 
Northern  lights,  Esquimaux,  musk-oxen,  bears,  walruses,  etc.,  together 
with  all  the  ordinary  incidents  of  an  Arctic  voyage,  woven  into  a  clear  con 
nected  narrative,  we  must  admit  that  a  good  work  has  been  done,  and  that 
the  author  deserves  the  gratitude  of  young  people  of  all  classes."— London 
AUienceum. 

CHASING  THE  SUN;  or, Rambles  in  Norway.  ISmo.  Illustrated. 
Cloth,  extra,  75  cents. 

Describing  a  country  almost  new  to  us,  the  author  tells  of  many  strange 
natural  curiosities,  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  and  the 
curious  modes  of  travel  and  conveyance. 

ANNE  BOWMAN. 

THE  BEAR  HUNTERS  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS.  IGmo. 
Illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  $1.25. 

A  story  of  trapper  life  in  the  Bocky  Mountains.  A  better  insight  of  real 
life  in  these  uncivilized  wilds  is  gained  from  books  like  this  than  from  scores 
of  the  dry  details  of  travellers. 

ADVENTURES   IN   CANADA;   or,  Life  in  the  Woods.     16mo. 

Illustrated.    Cloth,  $1.25. 

This  is  not  aj&ere  work  of  fiction,  but  the  true  narrative  of  a  bright  boy  who 
roughed  itinWehush  when  Canada,  the  home  of  adventure  and  sporting, 
was  much  wilder  than  it  is  now.  The  boys,  especially,  wil  I  be  charmed  with 
the  adventures  with  Indians,  bears,  and  wolves,  tne  racoon  hunts  and  duck 
shooting;  while  the  older  class  of  readers  will  be  drawn  to  it  by  its  charm 
ing  description  of  the  scenery,  and  condition  of  what  may,  before  long,  be 
come  a  part  of  the  United  States. 


POUTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS.        25 

FOSTER'S  TRANSLATION. 

THE  THOUSAND  AND  ONE  NIGHTS ;  or.  The  Arabian  Nights' 
Entertainment.  A  new  edition.  With  eight  full-page  illustra 
tions.  Large  12mo,  cloth,  extra,  $1.50. 

"More  widely  diffused  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  than  any  other 
product  of  the  human  mind.  While  it  is  read  or  recited  to  crowds  of  eager 
hoteliers  in  the  Arab  coffee-houses  of  Asia  and  Africa,  it  is  just  as  eagerly 
j>prnsed  on  the  banks  of  the  Tagus,  the  Tiber,  the  Seine,  the  Thames,  the 
Hudson,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Ganges.  ,  .  .  While  there  are  children 
on  earth  to  love,  so  long  ^vill  the  'Arabian  Nights'  be  loved."—  Appleton'a 
American  Encyclopedia,  article  "'Arabian  Nights." 

D.  W.  BELISLE. 

THE  AMERICAN  FAMILY  ROBINSON;  or.  The  Adventures  o^ 
a  Family  lost  in  the  Great  Desert  of  the  West.    IGmo.    Illus 
trated.    Cloth,  extra,  $1.25. 

DANIEL  DE  FOE. 

THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  ROBINSON  CRUSOE.  In 
cluding  a  Memoir  of  the  Author,  and  an  Essay  on  his  Writings. 
Large  12mo.  Illustrated.  Cloth,  extra.  Price,  $1.50. 

Carefully  printed  from  new  stereotype  plates,  with  large,  clear,  open  type, 
this  is  the  best,  as  well  as  the  cheapest,  edition  of  this  charming  work  pub 
lished. 

"  Perhaps  there  exists  no  work,  either  of  instruction  or  entertainment,  in 
the  English  language,  which  has  been  more  generally  read  and  more  uni 
versally  admired,  than  '  The  Life  and  Adventures  of  Robinson  Crusoe.'  It 
is  difficult  to  say  in  what  the  charm  consists,  by  which  persons  of  all  classes 
and  denominations  are  thus  fascinated;  yet  the  majority  of  readers  will  re 
collect  it  as  among  the  first  works  that  awakened  and  interested  their  youth 
ful  attention,  and  feel,  even  in  advanced  life  and  in  the  maturity  of  their 
understanding,  that  there  are  still  associated  with  Robinson  Crusoe  the  sen 
timents  peculiar  to  that  period,  when  all  is  bright,  which  the  experience  of 
after-life  tends  only  to  darken  and  destroy."— Sir  Walter  Scott. 

JEAN  RODOLPKE  WYSS. 

THE  SWISS  FAMILY  ROBINSON;  or,  The  Adventures  of  a 
Father,  Mother,  and  four  Sons,  on  a  Desert  Island.  Two  parts, 
complete  in  one  volume,  illustrated.  Large  12mo.  Cloth,  extra, 
Price,  $1.50. 

GRIMM. 

POPULAR  GERMAN  TALES  AND  HOUSEHOLD  STORIES. 
Collected  by  the  Brothers  Grimm.  With  nearly  200  illustra 
tions  by  Edward  II.  Wehnert.  Complete  in  one  volume.  New 
edition.  Fine  English  cloth,  bev.  bds.,  full  gilt  back  and  side 
stamp,  $2.50 ;  half  calf,  gilt,  $1.50. 
The  stories  in  these  volumes  are  world-renowned,  and  they  will  continue 

to  be  read,  as  they  long  have  been,  in  different  languages,  and  to  charm  and 

delight  not  only  the  yonng,  but  many  readers  in  mature  life  who  love  the 

recollections  of  childhood  and  its  innocent  diversions. 

COUNTESS  DE  SEGUR. 

FRENCH  FAIRY  TALES.  Translated  by  Mrs.  Coleman  and  her 
daughters.  AVith  ten  full-page  illustrations,  by  Gustave  Dore 
and  Jules  Didier.  IGmo,  price,  $1.50. 

The  Countess  de  Segur,  the  authoress  of  this  charming  work,  and  the 
mother  of  the  wife  of  the  French  ambassador  at  Florence-,  the  brilliant  Ba 
roness  Malaret,  is  a  Russian  lady,  and  a  daughter  of  the  heroic  Frince 
Rostopchin,  who  ordered  the  burning  of  Moscow,  when  Napoleon  captured 
that  devoted  citv. 

"  Not  many  of  the  fairy  stories  written  for  children  are  so  admirably  con 
trived  or  so  charmingly  written  as  these."—  Worcester  Daily  Spy. 


26        PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 


HARRY  CASTLEMON. 

THE  SPORTMAN'S  CLUB  IN  THE  SADDLE.  This  is  the  first 
of  the  new  Series  of  Six.  The  new  volumes  of  this  series  will 
follow  from  time  to  time  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Illustrated, 
16mo,  cloth,  extra,  black  and  gold,  $1.25. 

"The  'Sportsman's  Club  in  the  Saddle'  is  a  splendid  book  for  boys."— Daily 
Journal,  Ncwburgh,  N.  Y. 

'•  This  story,  we  are  quite  certain,  will  please  the  boys  immensely ;  it  is  full 
of  amusing  and  exciting  incidents."—  Worcester  Daily  Spy. 

"This  is  the  first  of  the  '  Sportman's  Club  Series  '  by  one  of  the  most  popu 
lar  authors  of  Juvenile  books.  The  boys  who  love  dogs  and  guns  will  enjoy 
this  volunie."— Democrat,  St.  Louis. 

"A  delightful  writer  is  Castlemon.  Has  seen  everything  and  remembers 
what  he  has  seen.  Describes  scenes  with  great  spirit,  while  all  his  volume's 
are  full  of  incident  and  excitement.  The  author  has  a  nice  sense  of  the 
wants  of  boyhood,  and  produces  such  stories  as  give  entire  satisfaction  to 
the  future  rulers  of  the  republic."—  Albany  Evening  Post. 

"  Mr.  Castlemon  is  the  author  of  several  series  of  fascinating  books  for 
boys,  and  the  present  volume  but  adds  to  its  reputation."— Morning  Herald, 
Utica.  N.  Y. 

"  A  spirited  and  lively  sketch  of  the  huntsman's  sports.  It  is  replete  with 
exciting  adventure  wrought  into  the  form  of  an  animated  story,  and  the 
young  will  follow  its  entertaining  pages  with  unflagging  interest.'*—  Albany 
Evening  Journal. 

THE  GUNBOAT  SERIES.  6  vols.,  IGmo,  illustrated.  Cloth,  black 
and  gold,  $7.50. 

Frank  the  Young  Naturalist.  Frank  on  a  Gunboat. 

Frank  in  the  Woods.  Frank  before  Vicksburg.     • 

Frank  on  the  Lower  Mississippi.         Frank  on  the  Prairie. 

THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  SERIES.  3  vols.,  IGmo,  illustrated. 
Cloth,  black  and  gold,  $3.75. 

Frank  among  the  Kancheros.          Frank  at  Don  Carlos'  Rancho. 
Frank  in  the  Mountains. 

THE  GO-AHEAD  SERIES.  3  vols.,  16mo,  illustrated.  Cloth, 
black  and  gold,  $4.50. 

Go  Ahead  ;  or,  The  Fisher  Boy's  Motto. 

No  Moss ;  or,  The  Career  of  a  Rolling  Stone. 

Tom  Newcombe 

JULIA  McNAIR  WRIGHT. 

A  MILLION  TOO  MUCH.  A  Temperance  Tale.  By  Mrs.  Julia 
McNair  Wright,  author  of  "  Priest  and  Nun,"  "  Almost  a  Nun," 
"New  York  Ned,"  "John  and  Demijohn,"  &c.  12mo.  Fine 
cloth,  $1.50. 

"  It  is  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  temperance  literature  of  the  day,  pro 
bably  the  best  work  of  the  kind  ever  published,  as  it  deals  with  absolute 
facts.  It  is  really  a  wonderful  book,  and  those  who  would  work  effectively 
in  staying  the  tide  of  intemperance,  would  do  well  to  circulate  it."— liloom- 
ington  Daily  leader. 

"  It  is  infinitely  better  than  stories  of  the  kind  generally  are."— Philadel 
phia  Inquirer. 

"  This  story  is  one  of  the  best  pieces  of  temperance  advocacy  we  have  seen. 
Its  scenes  are  graphic;  its  progress  only  too  natural,  and  its  conclusion  a 
powerful  warning.  It  is  less  of  a  tract  than  many  of  the  same  kind  of  tales, 
and  merits  attention  for  the  freshness  and  force  of  its  delineations."— The 
Age,  Philadelphia. 

"  A  first  class  temperance  story.  The  career  of  one  born  with  appetite  for 
drink  and  with  the  means  to  gratify  every  wish  is  depicted  with  vigorous 
and  rapid  strokes  in  a  well  told  story.  *  *  We  recommend  this  book  for 
Sunday-school  libraries."— "  The  Pacific,"  San  Francisco. 


pe 
Ch 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS.        27 


MARGARET  HOSMER. 

Author  of  "Cherry,  the  Missionary,"  "Grandma  Merritt's  Stories,"  "The 
Voyage  of  the  White  Falcon,"  &c.,  &c. 

LITTLE  ROSIE'S  FIRST  PLAY  DAYS.  Illustrated.  ISmo.,  160 
pp.,  75  cents. 

LITTLE  ROSIE'S  CHRISTMAS  TIMES.  Illustrated.  ISmo.,  160 
pp.,  75  cents. 

LITTLE  ROSIE  IN  THE  COUNTRY.  Illustrated.  18mo.,  160  pp. 
75  cents. 

"  Very  nice  children's  books,  indeed,  and  we  only  wish  that  we  had  more 
space  to  say  so,  and  more  tisae  to  say  it  in.  Any  present-giving  fathers, 
mothers,  uncles,  aunts,  brothers,  or  sisters,  who  have  a  care  for  the  little 

eople,  may  safely  order  these  for  home  consumption."—  The  Hartford 
urchman. 

"  A  charming  series  of  stories  for  the  younger  class  of  readers,  full  of  in 
teresting  incidents  and  good  moral  and  religious  instruction,  brought  down 
to  the  comprehension  of  a  child  in  such  a  way  as  to  produce  a  salutary  im 
pression.  They  are  calculated  also  to  teach  parents  how  to  keep  children 
employed  in  what  is  pleasant  and  useful,  thus  superseding  the  necessity  of 
imposing  so  many  restraints  to  keep  them  from  evil.  This  is  apt  to  be  the 
great  fault  in  the  management  of  children.  They  are  given  nothing  inno 
cent  and  useful  with  which  to  employ  their  active,  restless  minds,  and  then 
parents  wonder  that  they  need  be  always  in  mischief.  Ilosie's  mother  better 
comprehended  the  wants  of  a  child,  and  forestalled  temptations  to  end  by 
incentives  to  good,"—Springfleld  Daily  Union. 

UNDER  THE  HOLLY-  or  Christmas  at  Hopeton  Grange.  A 
Book  for  Girls.  By  MRS.  HOSMER  and  Miss  -  .  12mo.  Illus 
trated.  Cloth,  extra,  $1.50. 

"  And  this  we  can  and  do  most  confidently  recommend  to  parents  who  are 
faithfully  striving  to  provide  only  wholesome  food  for  the  intellectual  appe 
tite  of  their  children.  The  tone  of  the  book  is  pure  and  healthful,  the  style 
easy  and  graceful,  and  the  incidents  are  such  as  to  give  pleasure  without  at 
all  kindling  the  passion  for  exciting  fiction,  which  is  so  rampant  among  the 
young  people  of  our  day."—  Maryland  Church  Record. 

"  This  is  entitled,  '  A  Book  for  Girls,'  but  it  would  interest  the  youth  of 
either  sex.  It  is  a  succession  of  tales  told  at  the  Christmas  season.  We  can 
recommend  them  all  for  their  interest  and  moral.  It  is  for  '  children  of  a 
larger  growth,'  not  a  mere  story-book  for  the  little  ones."—  Philadelphia 
Daily  Age, 

LENNY,  THE  ORPHAN;  or,  Trials  and  Triumphs.  Illustrated, 
byFaber.  16mo.  Price,  $1.25. 

"  A  story  book  of  an  orphan  boy,  who  is  thrown  loose  upon  the  world  by 
a  conflagration,  in  which  his  mother  and  only  surviving  parent  is  burnt. 
The  varieties  of  experience,  both  sorrowful  and  happy,  through  which  the 
boy  passes,  are  wrought  up  into  a  story  of  no  little  power,  and  yet  are  such 
as  often  occur  in  actual  life.  The  religious  teachings  of  the  book  are  good, 
and  penetrate  the  entire  structure  of  the  story.  We  recommend  it  cor 
dially  to  a  place  in  the  Sunday-school  library."—  Sunday-School  Times,  Phila 
delphia. 

"The  author  of  this  book  has  written  some  of  the  best  Sunday-school 
books  which  have  recently  been  issued  from  the  press  of  the  American  Sun 
day  School  Union.  The  volume  before  us  portrays  the  trials  of  a  little  boy, 
who  loses  his  mother  in  early  life,  and  is  subjected  to  the  intrigues  of  a  de 
signing  person,  from  which  he  obtains  a  happy  deliverance.  The  story  is 
well  planned  and  written,  and  its  moral  and  religious  lessocft  ure  good."— 
Weekly  Freedman,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 


28        PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS. 

BARONESS  MARTINEAU  DES  CHESNEZ. 

LADY  GREEN  SATIN",  AISTD  HER  MAID  ROSETTE.  Translated 
from,  the  French.  Illustrated.  1  vol.,  12mo.  Cloth,  black  and 
gold,  $1.50. 

_  This  will  be  one  of  the  most  charming  juveniles  published  this  fall,  both 
inside  and  outside. 

HECTOR  MALOT. 

ROMAIN  KALBRIS:  His  ADVENTURES  ON"  SEA  AND  SHORE. 
Translated  from  the  French  by  Mrs.  JULIA  McNAiR  WRIGHT, 
authoress  of  "Priest  and  Nun,"  "A  Million  Too  Much  "  etc. 
Illustrated  with  47  original  French  designs,  by  Emile  Bayard, 
engraved  in  the  handsomest  style.  1  vol.,  12mo.  Cloth,  black 
and  gold,  $2.50. 

This  will  be  the  handsomest  juvenile  of  the  season,  and  is  confidently  re 
commended  to  the  trade. 

CAROLINE  H.  B.  LAING. 

THE  SEVEN  KINGS  OF  THE  SEVEN  HILLS.  A  Popular 
Ancient  History  of  Rome,  designed  for  Children.  16mo,  illus 
trated,  $1. 

"  A  very  attractive  and  well-told  rendering  of  the  fables  of  early  Roman 
history.  Everybody  needs  to  know  tbese  stories,  and  this  book  will  serve  a 
good  end  in  introducing  them  to  children."— The  Nation.  New  York. 

"  The  early  history  of  Rome  is  treated  by  the  accomplished  authoress  of 
this  work  in  a  manner  adapted  to  the  comprehension  and  tastes  of  juvenile 
readers,  without  attempting  to  draw  too  sharp  a  Hno  between  the  results  of 
critical  research  and  legendary  fictions.  Her  little  volume  is  highly  enter 
taining,  the  language  is  chaste  and  graphic,  and  the  narrative  abounds  with 
striking  incidents."— New  York  Tribune. 

THE  HEROES  OP   THE   SEVEN   HILLS.      A  sequel  to  "The 
Seven  Kings  of  the  Seven  Hills."  A  Child's  History  of  Ancient 
Rome.    1  vol.,  IGmo.    Illustrated.    Cloth,  black  and  gold,  $1. 
This  little  book,  and  the  one  to  which  it  is  a  sequel,  supply  a  want  which 
has  long  been  felt.    The  reception  accorded  the  first  one  guarantees  popu 
larity  to  the  coming  volume. 

MRS.  S.  C.  HALLOWELL. 

EEC'S  BEDTIME,  and  other  Stories  from  The  Christian  Union. 
1  vol.,  12rno.  Illustrated.  Cloth,  black  and  gold,  $1.50. 

Mrs.  Hallowell  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  most  popular  contributors  to 
The  Christian  Union,  and  as  a  writer  for  children  has  a  high  standing. 

VICTOR  HUGO. 

GAVROCHE,  THE  GAMIN  OF  PARIS.    From  "  Les  Miserables,'? 
by  Victor  Hugo.    Translated  and  adapted  by  M.  C.  PYX.E.    A 
charming  story.    16mo,  cloth,  black  and  gilt,  $1. 
"  This  story  is  a  charming  episode  in  Victor  Hugo's  famous  book, '  Les 
Miserables.'    It  is  a  very  touching  and  strongly  drawn  picture  of  Parisian 
life.    The  hero  is  a  '  Gamin,'  or  street  boy  of  Paris,  who  lives  a  vagabond 
life,  and  takes  a  precocious  part  in  events  of  the  great  capital."— The  Age, 
Philadelphia. 


PORTER  &  COATES'  PUBLICATIONS,         29 


PAUL  KONEWKA. 

THE  CATASTROPHE  OF  THE  HALL.  Illustrated  with  original 
drawings  in  Silhouette  by  the  late  Paul  Konewka,  in  his  most 
characteristic  manner.  Beautifully  printed  on  tinted  paper. 
Quarto.  Boards,  $1.00; 

"  A  rhymed  tale  about  three  kittens,  Beauty,  Monkey  and  Dot,  illustrated 
with  silhouettes,  by  the  late  Paul  Konewka,  so  spirited  and  so  funny,  that 
the  children  who  read  will  be  apt  to  agree  with  the  boy  on  the  title-page  in. 
being  '  particularly  glad  that  God  did  cats.'  "—New  York  Daily  Tribune. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

THE  LIBRARY ;  or,  What  Kooks  to  Read,  and  How  to  Buy  them. 

A  few  practical  hints,  by  an  old  Bookbuyer.    IGmo,  paper  cover, 

10  cents  per  copy  ;  $8.00  per  hundred. 

Everybody  has  felt  the  want  of  a  reliable  guide  in  selecting  books  for  their 
library.  In  this  little  manual,  the  author  has  endeavored  first,  in  a  prelimi 
nary  essay,  to  point  out  how  to  read  books  to  the  best  advantage,  and  how 
to  buy  them;  second,  what  books  to  buy,  by  giving  lists  of  some  fifteen 
hundred  volumes  of  standard  works,  such  as  are  necessary  to  every  well- 
selected  library;  these  are  given  with  the  number  of  volumes,  the  best  and 
different  editions,  and  the  prices.  It  thus  forms  a  complete  and  intelligent 
guide,  as  to  what  is  best  to  buy  first,  such  as  every  person  of  any  pretensions 
to  literary  taste  should  possess. 

THOUGHTS  OF  PEACE ;  or,  Strong  Hope  and  Consolation  for  the 
Bearer  of  the  Cross.  From  the  last  London  edition.  Beauti 
fully  printed  on  tinted  paper,  with  carmine  border.  Square 
16mo.  Fine  English  cloth,  bevelled  boards,  red  edges,  $1.50. 

"Remarkable  as  the  assertion  is,  that  very  many  of  the  best  works  are 
the  product  of  the  chastened  and  afflicted  in  society,  it  is  nevertheless  true 
that  the  world  is  greatly  enriched  by  the  presence  of  invalid  gifted  minds  in 
all  ages.  This  delightful  little  volume  is  the  product  of  one  who  has  felt  the 
acuteness  of  disease,  and  it  illustrates  the  experience  of  one  who  has  long 
been  an  invalid.  The  Scriptural  texts,  and  poetic  suggestions,  evince  a  rich 
acquaintance  with  the  scriptures  and  the  poets.  The  book  is  beautifully 
printed  on  tinted  paper,  red  line  border,  and  richly  bound.  Many  would 
prize  it  as  a  gift  book."— fittsburg  Gazette. 

"  This  is  a  reprint  from  the  latest  London  edition,  and  Is  a  beautiful  little 
work,  both  in  style  of  typography  and  binding,  and  in  the  sentiments  judi 
ciously  selected  and  collated  from  the  Sacred  Scriptures  and  poets.  It  com 
prises  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  of  the  most  soul-comforting  and  inspiring 
texts  of  the  Bible— one  for  each  day  of  the  year.  Following  each  text  is  a 
short  selection  from  some  hymn,  or  sacred  poem  of  corresponding  senti 
ment.  No  better  souvenir  could  be  given  to  one  having  experienced  some 
of  life's  sorrows— and  who  has  not!— and  who  has  learned  to  look  for  con 
solation  to  Holy  Writ."— Mauch  Chunk  Gazette, 

PAPA'S  BOOK  OF  ANIMALS.  Wild  and  Tame.  Chiefly  from 
the  writings  of  Rev.  J.  G.  WOOD  and  THOS.  BINGLEY.  With 
sixteen  large  and  .spirited  drawings,  by  H.  C.  Bispham.  Small 
4to.,  fine  English  cloth,  gilt,  bev.  bds.  Price,  $1.25. 

SLOVENLY  PETER;  or,  Cheerful  Stories  and  Funny  Pictures  for 

Good  Little  Folks.     With  nearly  two  hundred  engravings. 

Beautifully  colored.     Printed   on   heavy   paper.     Large   4to, 

Cloth,  bevelled  boards,  extra,  $1.75. 

A  new  edition  of  this  charming  book,  a  standard  among  juveniles.   Surely 

lessons  of  stern  morality  and  humanity  were  never  more  pleasantly  and 

effectually  tuught  than  m  this  book. 


30         PORTER  &  COATES*  PUBLICATIONS. 

NORTHERN  LIGHTS.  Tales  from  Swedish  and  Finnish  authors. 
Collected  and  translated  by  SEI^IA  BORG  and  MARIR  A.  BROWN, 
the  translators  of  the  Schwartz  Novels.  1  vol.,  12mo.  Illus 
trated.  Cloth,  black  and  gold,  $1.50. 

This  collection  of  Northern  Tales  is  full  of  beauty,  and  for  imagination 
and  poetic  expression  excels  the  far-famed  tales  o'f  Hans  Christian  An 
dersen. 

STANDARD  FAIRY  TALES.  Containing  Aladdin,  Cinderella, 
Beauty  and  the  Beast,  Jack  the  Giant  Killer,  Red  Riding  Hood, 
Tom  Thumb,  Puss  in  Boots,  and  numerous  other  Favorites  of 
the  Nursery.  Beautifully  illustrated  with  eight  full  page  engra 
vings  after  designs  by  GUSTAV  DORS  and  GKORGE  CRUIK- 
SHANK.  12mo,  cloth,  extra,  black  and  gold,  $1.50. 

ADVENTURES  BY  LAND  AND  SEA.  Perils,  Hardships,  and 
Escapes ;  taken  from  the  most  famous  travels.  1  vol.  Small  4to. 
Profusely  illustrated.  Cloth,  black  and  gold,  and  illuminated 
side.  $2. 

PERILOUS  INCIDENTS  IN  THE  LIVES  OF  SAILORS  AND 
TRAVELLERS.  Small  4to.  Profusely  illustrated.  Cloth,  black 
and  gold,  and  illuminated  side.  $2. 

These  are  companion  volumes,  and  will  be  great  favorites  for  the  holiday 
season. 

M.  C.   PYLE. 

MINNA  IN  WONDERLAND,  AND  ROLAND  AND  HIS 
FRIENDS.  A  charming  new  juvenile.  Beautifully  illus 
trated.  Cloth,  black  and  gold,  75  cents. 


ROSE  VALLEY  LIBRARY.  6  vols.  32mo.  Illustrated.  In  neat 
box.  Per  vol.,  25  cents. 

Kobinson  Crusoe.  Discontented  Tom. 

Eva  Bruen.  Edith  Locke. 

Willie  and  Ned..  Ben  Benson. 

ALADDIN;  or,  The  Wonderful  Lamp.  With  fifteen  large  and 
beautiful  illustrations,  by  F.  O.  C.  Darley.  Small  4to,  fine  Eng 
lish  cloth,  gilt,  bev.  bds.,  $1.50. 

THE  HAPPY  CHILD'S  PICTURES  OF  ANIMALS  AND  BIRDS. 

4to.  Illustrated  with  large  colored  pictures  from  drawings  of 
animals  and  birds,  by  Harrison  Wier.  Fancy  boards.  Price 
43  cents. 

MOTHER  GOOSE'S  COMPLETE  EDITION  OF  HER  RHYMES, 
CHIMES,  AND  MELODIES.  128  pp.,  profusely  illustrated, 
colored,  square  12mo.  Fancy  boards,  00  cents;  cloth,  gilt,  75  cts. 

LETTER  WRITERS. 

THE  GENTLEMAN'S  LETTER-WRITER.  Bound  in  boards, 
cloth  back.  13D  pp.  Price,  35  cents. 

THE  LADY'S  LETTER- WRITER.  Bound  in  boards,  cloth  back. 
139  pp.  Price,  35  cents, 

THE  COMPLETE  LETTER- WRITER.  For  the  use  of  Ladies 
and  Gentlemen:  containing  botl;  the  above  bound  in  one  vol 
ume.  273  pp.  Cloth,  gilt.  Price,  75  cents. 


